THE POOL OF TERRORS We came soon to another flight of steps made of gigantic blocks of stone older than history, and groping our way up those we followed the Gray Mahatma to a gallery at the top, on the other side of which was a sheer drop and the smell of stagnant water.

I could hear something sluggish that moved in the water, and somewhere in the distance was a turning around which light found its way so dimly that it hardly looked like light at all, but more like filmy mist.

A heavy monster splashed somewhere beneath us and the Mahatma raised the lantern to peer into our faces.
"Those are _muggers_ (alligators).

You may see them now if you would rather.

The same as with the snakes, the rule is you must do them no harm." He looked at us keenly, as if making sure that we really were not enjoying ourselves, and then leaned his weight against an iron door in a corner.