Both laughed, for that which had caught their eye was an idol—one of the hundreds of thousands of deities of India.
It was a grotesque imitation of humanity, with a head resembling an elephant's and as big as the rest of the body, and with a mouth, eyes and nose enough to terrify a beholder. It seemed to have been carved from marble, and still bore traces of the red paint and gilt with which it was once decorated.
"Do you know anything about this gentleman?" asked Harkins, after they had examined the image.
"It is meant for Gungah, the many armed goddess of the Ganges."
"It seems to me that when these people tried to represent a goddess they might have made her better looking. This specimen is enough to give a man the nightmare."
While making these remarks, Harkins placed his hand against the idol and pushed hard enough to move it slightly.
"She don't seem to be very solid on her pins," he said; "over she goes!"
And with a more vigorous shove he sent her crashing to the floor.
"Thus shall tumble the Mogul Empire," said Avery, looking down on the prostrate monster, "and it shall rise nevermore."
"I agree with your sentiments, but wish that the empire would not be so long in falling. I tell you that old England, though thousands of miles away, won't take long to strike, and when she does so, it will be straight from the shoulder and she'll make the bones rattle."