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her presence。 She seems all right； she is not a bad…looking；
strapping wench； seems chaste； is industrious； has an
excellent taste in hymns … you should have heard her read one
aloud the other day； she marked the rhythm with so much
gloating； dissenter sentiment。 What is wrong； then？ says
you。 Low in your ear … and don't let the papers get hold of
it … she is of no family。 None； they say； literally a common
woman。 Of course； we have out…islanders； who MAY be
villeins； but we give them the benefit of the doubt； which is
impossible with Helen of Vailima； our blot； our pitted speck。
The pitted speck I have said is our precentor。 It is always
a woman who starts Samoan song； the men who sing second do
not enter for a bar or two。 Poor； dear Faauma； the unchaste；
the extruded Eve of our Paradise； knew only two hymns； but
Helen seems to know the whole repertory； and the morning
prayers go far more lively in consequence。 … Lafaele； provost
of the cattle。 The cattle are Jack； my horse； quite
converted； my wife rides him now； and he is as steady as a
doctor's cob； Tifaga Jack； a circus horse； my mother's
piebald； bought from a passing circus； Belle's mare； now in
childbed or next door； confound the slut！ Musu … amusingly
translated the other day 'don't want to；' literally cross；
but always in the sense of stubbornness and resistance … my
wife's little dark…brown mare； with a white star on her
forehead； whom I have been riding of late to steady her … she
has no vices； but is unused； skittish and uneasy； and wants a
lot of attention and humouring； lastly （of saddle horses）
Luna … not the Latin MOON； the Hawaiian OVERSEER； but it's
pronounced the same … a pretty little mare too； but scarce at
all broken； a bad bucker； and has to be ridden with a stock…
whip and be brought back with her rump criss…crossed like a
clan tartan； the two cart horses； now only used with pack…
saddles； two cows； one in the straw （I trust） to…morrow； a
third cow； the Jersey … whose milk and temper are alike
subjects of admiration … she gives good exercise to the
farming saunterer； and refreshes him on his return with
cream； two calves； a bull； and a cow； God knows how many
ducks and chickens； and for a wager not even God knows how
many cats； twelve horses； seven horses； five kine： is not
this Babylon the Great which I have builded？ Call it
SUBPRIORSFORD。
Two nights ago the club had its first meeting； only twelve
were present； but it went very well。 I was not there； I had
ridden down the night before after dinner on my endless
business； took a cup of tea in the Mission like an ass； then
took a cup of coffee like a fool at Haggard's； then fell into
a discussion with the American Consul 。 。 。 I went to bed at
Haggard's； came suddenly broad awake； and lay sleepless the
live night。 It fell chill； I had only a sheet； and had to
make a light and range the house for a cover … I found one in
the hall； a macintosh。 So back to my sleepless bed； and to
lie there till dawn。 In the morning I had a longish ride to
take in a day of a blinding； staggering sun； and got home by
eleven； our luncheon hour； with my head rather swimmy； the
only time I have FEARED the sun since I was in Samoa。
However； I got no harm； but did not go to the club； lay off；
lazied； played the pipe； and read … a novel by James Payn …
sometimes quite interesting； and in one place really very
funny with the quaint humour of the man。 Much interested the
other day。 As I rode past a house； I saw where a Samoan had
written a word on a board； and there was an A； perfectly
formed； but upside down。 You never saw such a thing in
Europe； but it is as common as dirt in Polynesia。 Men's
names are tattooed on the forearm； it is common to find a
subverted letter tattooed there。 Here is a tempting problem
for psychologists。
I am now on terms again with the German Consulate； I know not
for how long； not； of course； with the President； which I
find a relief； still； with the Chief Justice and the English
Consul。 For Haggard； I have a genuine affection； he is a
loveable man。
Wearyful man！ 'Here is the yarn of Loudon Dodd； NOT AS HE
TOLD IT； BUT AS IT WAS AFTERWARDS WRITTEN。' These words were
left out by some carelessness； and I think I have been thrice
tackled about them。 Grave them in your mind and wear them on
your forehead。
The Lang story will have very little about the treasure； THE
MASTER will appear； and it is to a great extent a tale of
Prince Charlie AFTER the '45； and a love story forbye： the
hero is a melancholy exile； and marries a young woman who
interests the prince； and there is the devil to pay。 I think
the Master kills him in a duel； but don't know yet； not
having yet seen my second heroine。 No … the Master doesn't
kill him； they fight； he is wounded； and the Master plays
DEUS EX MACHINA。 I THINK just now of calling it THE TAIL OF
THE RACE； no … heavens！ I never saw till this moment … but
of course nobody but myself would ever understand Mill…Race；
they would think of a quarter…mile。 So … I am nameless
again。 My melancholy young man is to be quite a Romeo。 Yes；
I'll name the book from him： DYCE OF YTHAN … pronounce
Eethan。
Dyce of Ythan
by R。 L。 S。
O； Shovel … Shovel waits his turn； he and his ancestors。 I
would have tackled him before； but my STATE TRIALS have never
come。 So that I have now quite planned：…
Dyce of Ythan。 （Historical； 1750。）
Sophia Scarlet。 （To…day。）
The Shovels of Newton French。 （Historical； 1650 to 1830。）
And quite planned and part written：…
The Pearl Fisher。 （To…day。） （With Lloyd a machine。）
David Balfour。 （Historical； 1751。）
And； by a strange exception for R。 L。 S。； all in the third
person except D。 B。
I don't know what day this is now （the 29th）； but I have
finished my two chapters； ninth and tenth； of SAMOA in time
for the mail； and feel almost at peace。 The tenth was the
hurricane； a difficult problem； it so tempted one to be
literary； and I feel sure the less of that there is in my
little handbook； the more chance it has of some utility。
Then the events are complicated； seven ships to tell of； and
sometimes three of them together； O； it was quite a job。 But
I think I have my facts pretty correct； and for once； in my
sickening yarn； they are handsome facts： creditable to all
concerned； not to be written of … and I should think； scarce
to be read … without a thrill。 I doubt I have got no
hurricane into it； the intricacies of the yarn absorbing me
too much。 But there … it's done somehow； and time presses
hard on my heels。 The book； with my best expedition； may
come just too late to be of use。 In which case I shall have
made a handsome present of some months of my life for nothing
and to nobody。 Well； through Her the most ancient heavens
are fresh and strong。
30TH。
After I had written you； I re…read my hurricane； which is
very poor； the life of the journalist is hard； another couple
of writings and I could make a good thing； I believe； and it
must go as it is！ But； of course； this book is not written
for honour and glory； and the few who will read it may not
know the difference。 Very little time。 I go down with the
mail shortly； dine at the Chinese restaurant； and go to the
club to dance with islandresses。 Think of my going out once
a week to dance。
Politics are on the full job again； and we don't know what is
to come next。 I think the whole treaty RAJ seems quite
played out！ They have taken to bribing the FAIPULE men
（parliament men） to stay in Mulinuu； we hear； but I have not
yet sifted the rumour。 I must say I shall be scarce
surprised if it prove true； these rumours have the knack of
being right。 … Our weather this last month has been
tremendously hot； not by the thermometer； which sticks at 86
degrees； but to the sensation： no rain； no wind； and this the
storm month。 It looks ominous； and is certainly
disagreeable。
No time to finish；
Yours ever；
R。 L。 S。
CHAPTER XVIII
MAY 1ST。 1892。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … As I rode down last night about six； I saw
a sight I must try to tell you of。 In front of me； right
over the top of the forest into which I was descending was a
vast cloud。 The front of it accurately represented the
somewhat rugged； long…nosed； and beetle…browed profile of a
man； crowned by a huge Kalmuck cap； the flesh part was of a
heavenly pink； the cap； the moustache； the eyebrows were of a
bluish gray； to see this with its childish exactitude of
design and colour； and hugeness of scale … it covered at
least 25 degrees … held me spellbound。 As I continued to
gaze； the expression began to change； he had the exact air of
closing one eye；