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feared censure and all kinds of trouble； is； of course；
rejoicing greatly。 A characteristic feature： the argument of
the pastors was handed in in the form of a fictitious
narrative of the voyage of one Mr。 Pye； an English traveller；
and his conversation with a chief； there are touches of
satire in this educational romance。 Mr。 Pye； for instance；
admits that he knows nothing about the Bible。 At the Mission
I was sought out by Henry in a devil of an agitation； he has
been made the victim of a forgery … a crime hitherto unknown
in Samoa。 I had to go to Folau； the chief judge here； in the
matter。 Folau had never heard of the offence； and begged to
know what was the punishment； there may be lively times in
forgery ahead。 It seems the sort of crime to tickle a
Polynesian。 After lunch … you can see what a busy three days
I am describing … we set off to ride home。 My Jack was full
of the devil of corn and too much grass； and no work。 I had
to ride ahead and leave Fanny behind。 He is a most gallant
little rascal is my Jack； and takes the whole way as hard as
the rider pleases。 Single incident： half…way up； I find my
boys upon the road and stop and talk with Henry in his
character of ganger； as long as Jack will suffer me。 Fanny
drones in after； we make a show of eating … or I do … she
goes to bed about half…past six！ I write some verses； read
Irving's WASHINGTON； and follow about half…past eight。 O；
one thing more I did； in a prophetic spirit。 I had made sure
Fanny was not fit to be left alone； and wrote before turning
in a letter to Chalmers； telling him I could not meet him in
Auckland at this time。 By eleven at night； Fanny got me
wakened … she had tried twice in vain … and I found her very
bad。 Thence till three； we laboured with mustard poultices；
laudanum； soda and ginger … Heavens！ wasn't it cold； the land
breeze was as cold as a river； the moon was glorious in the
paddock； and the great boughs and the black shadows of our
trees were inconceivable。 But it was a poor time。
Sunday morning found Fanny； of course； a complete wreck； and
myself not very brilliant。 Paul had to go to Vailele RE
cocoa…nuts； it was doubtful if he could be back by dinner；
never mind； said I； I'll take dinner when you return。 Off
set Paul。 I did an hour's work； and then tackled the house
work。 I did it beautiful： the house was a picture； it
resplended of propriety。 Presently Mr。 Moors' Andrew rode
up； I heard the doctor was at the Forest House and sent a
note to him； and when he came； I heard my wife telling him
she had been in bed all day； and that was why the house was
so dirty！ Was it grateful？ Was it politic？ Was it TRUE？ …
Enough！ In the interval； up marched little L。 S。； one of my
neighbours； all in his Sunday white linens； made a fine
salute； and demanded the key of the kitchen in German and
English。 And he cooked dinner for us； like a little man； and
had it on the table and the coffee ready by the hour。 Paul
had arranged me this surprise。 Some time later； Paul
returned himself with a fresh surprise on hand； he was almost
sober； nothing but a hazy eye distinguished him from Paul of
the week days： VIVAT！
On the evening I cannot dwell。 All the horses got out of the
paddock； went across； and smashed my neighbour's garden into
a big hole。 How little the amateur conceives a farmer's
troubles。 I went out at once with a lantern； staked up a gap
in the hedge； was kicked at by a chestnut mare； who
straightway took to the bush； and came back。 A little after；
they had found another gap； and the crowd were all abroad
again。 What has happened to our own garden nobody yet knows。
Fanny had a fair night； and we are both tolerable this
morning； only the yoke of correspondence lies on me heavy。 I
beg you will let this go on to my mother。 I got such a good
start in your letter； that I kept on at it； and I have
neither time nor energy for more。
Yours ever；
R。 L。 S。
SOMETHING NEW。
I was called from my letters by the voice of Mr。 …； who had
just come up with a load of wood； roaring； 'Henry！ Henry！
Bring six boys！' I saw there was something wrong； and ran
out。 The cart； half unloaded； had upset with the mare in the
shafts； she was all cramped together and all tangled up in
harness and cargo； the off shaft pushing her over； Mr。 …
holding her up by main strength； and right along…side of her
… where she must fall if she went down … a deadly stick of a
tree like a lance。 I could not but admire the wisdom and
faith of this great brute； I never saw the riding…horse that
would not have lost its life in such a situation； but the
cart…elephant patiently waited and was saved。 It was a
stirring three minutes； I can tell you。
I forgot in talking of Saturday to tell of one incident which
will particularly interest my mother。 I met Dr。 D。 from
Savaii； and had an age…long talk about Edinburgh folk； it was
very pleasant。 He has been studying in Edinburgh； along with
his son； a pretty relation。 He told me he knew nobody but
college people： 'I was altogether a student；' he said with
glee。 He seems full of cheerfulness and thick…set energy。 I
feel as if I could put him in a novel with effect； and ten to
one； if I know more of him； the image will be only blurred。
TUESDAY； DEC。 2ND。
I should have told you yesterday that all my boys were got up
for their work in moustaches and side…whiskers of some sort
of blacking … I suppose wood…ash。 It was a sight of joy to
see them return at night； axe on shoulder； feigning to march
like soldiers； a choragus with a loud voice singing out；
'March…step！ March…step！' in imperfect recollection of some
drill。
Fanny seems much revived。
R。 L。 S。
CHAPTER III
MONDAY； TWENTY…SOMETHINGTH OF DECEMBER； 1890。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … I do not say my Jack is anything
extraordinary； he is only an island horse； and the profane
might call him a Punch； and his face is like a donkey's； and
natives have ridden him； and he has no mouth in consequence；
and occasionally shies。 But his merits are equally
surprising； and I don't think I should ever have known Jack's
merits if I had not been riding up of late on moonless
nights。 Jack is a bit of a dandy； he loves to misbehave in a
gallant manner； above all on Apia Street； and when I stop to
speak to people； they say （Dr。 Stuebel the German consul said
about three days ago）； 'O what a wild horse！ it cannot be
safe to ride him。' Such a remark is Jack's reward； and
represents his ideal of fame。 Now when I start out of Apia
on a dark night； you should see my changed horse； at a fast
steady walk； with his head down； and sometimes his nose to
the ground … when he wants to do that； he asks for his head
with a little eloquent polite movement indescribable … he
climbs the long ascent and threads the darkest of the wood。
The first night I came it was starry； and it was singular to
see the starlight drip down into the crypt of the wood； and
shine in the open end of the road； as bright as moonlight at
home； but the crypt itself was proof； blackness lived in it。
The next night it was raining。 We left the lights of Apia
and passed into limbo。 Jack finds a way for himself； but he
does not calculate for my height above the saddle； and I am
directed forward； all braced up for a crouch and holding my
switch upright in front of me。 It is curiously interesting。
In the forest； the dead wood is phosphorescent； some nights
the whole ground is strewn with it； so that it seems like a
grating over a pale hell； doubtless this is one of the things
that feed the night fears of the natives； and I am free to
confess that in a night of trackless darkness where all else
is void； these pallid IGNES SUPPOSITI have a fantastic
appearance； rather bogey even。 One night； when it was very
dark； a man had put out a little lantern by the wayside to
show the entrance to his ground。 I saw the light； as I
thought； far ahead； and supposed it was a pedestrian coming
to meet me； I was quite taken by surprise when it struck in
my face and passed behind me。 Jack saw it； and he was
appalled； do you think he thought of shying？ No； sir； not in
the dark； in the dark Jack knows he is on duty； and he went
past that lantern steady and swift； only； as he went； he
groaned and shuddered。 For about 2500 of Jack's steps we
only pass one house … that where the lantern was； and about
1500 of these are in the darkness of the pit。 But now the
moon is on tap again； and the roads lighted。
I have been exploring up the Vaituliga； see your map。 It
comes down a wonderful fine glen； at least 200 feet of cliffs
on either hand； winding like a corkscrew； great forest trees
fill