Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (141 page)

             
"
Well
I
'
m
damned,
"
breathed
Lieutenant
Rae.
"
Who
would
have
credited
it?
"
He
turned
to
the
servant
again
and
said,
"
Ask
that
man
to
attend
me
here,
I
wish
to
see
these
animals
of
his.
"

             
The
midshipmen
were
fascinated
by
the
mongoose
the
little
man
presented
to
them.
Lithe,
covered
in
grey
fur
and
cat-like
in
their
agility,
the
animal
studied
them
with
bright
eyed
curiosity,
chittering
softly
as
it
lifted
its
nose
to
test
their
scent.
The
animal
was
large
–
almost
two
feet
in
length
and
the
bright
eyes
missed
nothing.
The
snake
'
s
corpse
showed
that
they
were
quick
and
efficient
killers,
for
its
head
were
almost
severed
from
the
body.
Harry,
who
had
a
deeply
ingrained
dislike
of
snakes,
reinforced
by
the
death
of
one
of
their
number
in
Australia,
refused
to
touch
it
.
He
stood
well
clear
when
the
mongooses
'
owner
tried
to
show
it
to
him.
Even
in
the
dim
light
of
the
lamps
and
the
occasional
flash
of
lightning,
the
snake
was
impressive
and
Harry
hoped
that
no
more
lurked
in
wait
in
the
house
or
beneath
it.

***

             
The
violence
of
the
previous
night
'
s
storm
seemed
to
have
cleared
the
air
and
the
morning
brought
cooler
and
somewhat
drier
conditions.
The
party
set
out
early,
Lieutenant
Rae
declaring,
"
If
we
go
now
we
shall
avoid
the
heat
of
the
day
for
our
climb
to
the
caves.
"

             
"
Indeed,
"
replied
the
Parson.
"
Though
we
shall
have
the
full
heat
and
probably
the
rain
again
for
our
return.
"

             
"
Better
that
than
while
we
are
climbing,
"
retorted
the
lieutenant.

             
The
group
made
good
time,
though,
a
little
to
their
surprise,
they
found
themselves
accompanied
by
several
attendants
bearing
hampers.
They
were
grateful
for
these
when
they
finally
arrived
at
the
barren
rock
faces
which
housed
the
caves
and
found
themselves
in
need
of
some
refreshment.
A
hamper
was
swiftly
unpacked
and
a
spread
of
tea
and
fruit
produced
for
their
enjoyment.
With
this
repast
suitably
reduced
by
the
younger
members
'
appetites,
the
serious
business
of
the
exploration
of
the
caves
was
put
in
hand.

             
Harry
mopped
his
brow
as
he
paused
at
the
entrance
to
the
third
cave
in
their
assent.
The
previous
two
had
been
stunning
in
the
variety
and
artifice
of
their
carving
and
decoration.
Clearly
these
were
the
work
of
master
craftsmen,
and
the
caves
were
themselves
hewn
from
the
rock
by
human
hands.
Saffron
robed
men
and
boys
squatted
or
worked
in
several
of
the
caves
at
a
variety
of
tasks
and
welcomed
them
solemnly
in
each.

             
"
Hot
work,
"
puffed
Kit.
"
But
worth
the
effort
don
'
t
you
think?
"

             
"
Every
drop
of
sweat,
"
agreed
Harry,
eyeing
a
row
of
seated
figures
in
niches.
"
Look
at
these,
every
one
of
them
is
individual;
I
wonder
if
they
are
portraits?
"

             
At
the
next
cave
they
gasped
in
surprise.
Having
negotiated
the
entrance
they
found
themselves
in
a
cathedral
like
hall,
the
walls
lined
by
pillars
and
the
ceiling
high
and
barrel
vaulted.

             
"
Ah,
"
exclaimed
the
Parson.
"
This
is
the
great
Vihara!
Remarkable
is
it
not?
"

             
"
What
was
it
used
for?
"
asked
Kit,
staring
in
wonder
at
the
carved
capitals
topping
the
pillars.

             
"
According
to
my
research,
this
one
is
still
used
as
a
prayer
hall.
The
others
are
apparently
used
for
living
quarters,
teaching
and
prayer.
Once
it
was
a
centre
of
Buddhist
worship,
now
it
seems
to
have
fallen
into
somewhat
less
popular
usage.
"

             
The
great
Vihara
proved
to
be
the
highlight
of
the
visit
and
soon
it
was
time
to
return
to
where
their
guides
awaited
them
on
the
lower
slopes.
A
brief
pause
for
some
refreshment
was
curtailed
by
the
approach
of
yet
another
storm
and
Harry
noticed
that
Eamon
seemed
to
become
nervous
and
anxious
to
leave.
He
nudged
Kit
and
pointed
this
out
quietly.