Page 59 - erewhon

standing, except that I was quite alone, and had come from
a long way over the mountains. In the course of time they
grew tired, and I very sleepy. I made signs as though I would
sleep on the floor in my blankets, but they gave me one of
their bunks with plenty of dried fern and grass, on to which
I had no sooner laid myself than I fell fast asleep; nor did
I awake till well into the following day, when I found my-
self in the hut with two men keeping guard over me and an
old woman cooking. When I woke the men seemed pleased,
and spoke to me as though bidding me good morning in a
pleasant tone.
I went out of doors to wash in a creek which ran a few
yards from the house. My hosts were as engrossed with me
as ever; they never took their eyes off me, following every
action that I did, no matter how trifling, and each looking
towards the other for his opinion at every touch and turn.
They took great interest in my ablutions, for they seemed
to have doubted whether I was in all respects human like
themselves. They even laid hold of my arms and overhauled
them, and expressed approval when they saw that they were
strong and muscular. They now examined my legs, and espe-
cially my feet. When they desisted they nodded approvingly
to each other; and when I had combed and brushed my hair,
and generally made myself as neat and well arranged as cir-
cumstances would allow, I could see that their respect for
me increased greatly, and that they were by no means sure
that they had treated me with sufficient deference—a matter
on which I am not competent to decide. All I know is that
they were very good to me, for which I thanked them heart-

Erewhon