Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/403

 ourselves back on the edge of the valley … I heard the approach of a swift horseman, I turned; and at that moment there was a collision of two constitutions that were just fitted for one another; and all the doubts and apprehensions of the week just over were dismissed; for Kána Aná and I were one and inseparable-which was perfectly satisfactory to both parties."

"The plot which had been thickening all the week, culminated then, much to the disgust of the Doctor, who had kept his watchful eye upon me all three days—to my advantage, as he supposed. There was no disguising the project any longer; so I came out with it, as mildly as posible—"There was a dear fellow here" I said, "who loved me, and wanted me to live with him. Also all his people wanted me to stop—his mother and his grandmother had specially desired it … I needed rest; his mother and his grandmother assured me that I needed rest. Now, why not let me rest here awhile?" The Doctor looked very grave. He tried to talk me over to the paths of virtue and propriety; but I wouldn't be talked over … The Doctor never spoke again but to abuse me; and off he rode, in high dudgeon, and the sun kept going down on his wrath. I resolved to be a barbarian, and perhaps to dwell forever and ever in this secluded spot."

"Over the sand we went, and through the river to Kána Aná's hut, where I was taken in, fed and petted in every possible way; and finally put to bed, where Kána Aná monopolized me—growling in true savage fashion if anyone came near me. I didn't sleep much after all. I think I must have been excited. I though how strangely I was situated—alone, in a wilderness, among barbarians; my bosom-friend, who was hugging me like a young bear, not able to speak one syllable of English, and I very shaky on a few bad phrases in his tongue. We two lay upon an enormous, old-fashioned bed with high posts—very high they seemed to me in the dim rush-light. The natives always burn a small light after dark; some superstition or other prompts it. The bed, well stocked with pillows or cushions, of various sizes, covered with bright-colored chintz, was hung about with numerous shawls, so that I might be dreadfully modest behind them … I found our bedposts festooned with flowers in the morning .. Oh, that bed! It might have come from England, in the Elizabethan era, and have been wrecked off the coast—hence the mystery of its presence. It was big enough for a Mormon."

"There was a little opening in the room, opposite our bed; you might call it a window, I suppose. The sun shining through it, made our tent of shawls perfectly gorgeous in crimson light, barred and starred with gold. I lifted our bed-curtain and watched the rocks