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think it possible I overworked yesterday。 Well； we'll see
to…morrow … perhaps try again later。 It is indeed the hope
of trying later that keeps me writing to you。 If I take to
my pipe； I know myself … all is over for the morning。
Hurray； I'll correct proofs！
PAGO…PAGO； WEDNESDAY。
After I finished on Sunday I passed a miserable day； went out
weeding； but could not find peace。 I do not like to steal my
dinner； unless I have given myself a holiday in a canonical
manner； and weeding after all is only fun； the amount of its
utility small； and the thing capable of being done faster and
nearly as well by a hired boy。 In the evening Sewall came up
（American consul） and proposed to take me on a malaga； which
I accepted。 Monday I rode down to Apia； was nearly all day
fighting about drafts and money； the silver problem does not
touch you； but it is （in a strange and I hope passing phase）
making my situation difficult in Apia。 About eleven； the
flags were all half…masted； it was old Captain Hamilton
（Samesoni the natives called him） who had passed away。 In
the evening I walked round to the U。S。 Consulate； it was a
lovely night with a full moon； and as I got round to the hot
corner of Matautu I heard hymns in front。 The balcony of the
dead man's house was full of women singing； Mary （the widow；
a native） sat on a chair by the doorstep； and I was set
beside her on a bench； and next to Paul the carpenter； as I
sat down I had a glimpse of the old captain； who lay in a
sheet on his own table。 After the hymn was over； a native
pastor made a speech which lasted a long while； the light
poured out of the door and windows； the girls were sitting
clustered at my feet； it was choking hot。 After the speech
was ended； Mary carried me within； the captain's hands were
folded on his bosom； his face and head were composed； he
looked as if he might speak at any moment； I have never seen
this kind of waxwork so express or more venerable； and when I
went away； I was conscious of a certain envy for the man who
was out of the battle。 All night it ran in my head； and the
next day when we sighted Tutuila； and ran into this beautiful
land…locked loch of Pago Pago （whence I write）； Captain
Hamilton's folded hands and quiet face said a great deal more
to me than the scenery。
I am living here in a trader's house； we have a good table；
Sewall doing things in style； and I hope to benefit by the
change； and possibly get more stuff for Letters。 In the
meanwhile； I am seized quite MAL…A…PROPOS with desire to
write a story； THE BLOODY WEDDING； founded on fact … very
possibly true； being an attempt to read a murder case … not
yet months old； in this very place and house where I now
write。 The indiscretion is what stops me； but if I keep on
feeling as I feel just now it will have to be written。 Three
Star Nettison； Kit Nettison； Field the Sailor； these are the
main characters： old Nettison； and the captain of the man of
war； the secondary。 Possible scenario。 Chapter I。。。。
CHAPTER VII
SATURDAY； APRIL 18TH。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … I got back on Monday night； after twenty…
three hours in an open boat； the keys were lost； the Consul
（who had promised us a bottle of Burgundy） nobly broke open
his store…room； and we got to bed about midnight。 Next
morning the blessed Consul promised us horses for the
daybreak； forgot all about it； worthy man； set us off at last
in the heat of the day； and by a short cut which caused
infinite trouble； and we were not home till dinner。 I was
extenuated； and have had a high fever since； or should have
been writing before。 To…day for the first time； I risk it。
Tuesday I was pretty bad； Wednesday had a fever to kill a
horse； Thursday I was better； but still out of ability to do
aught but read awful trash。 This is the time one misses
civilisation； I wished to send out for some police novels；
Montepin would have about suited my frozen brain。 It is a
bother when all one's thought turns on one's work in some
sense or other； could not even think yesterday； I took to
inventing dishes by way of entertainment。 Yesterday； while I
lay asleep in the afternoon； a very lucky thing happened； the
Chief Justice came to call； met one of our employes on the
road； and was shown what I had done to the road。
'Is this the road across the island？' he asked。
'The only one；' said Innes。
'And has one man done all this？'
'Three times；' said the trusty Innes。 'It has had to be made
three times； and when Mr。 Stevenson came； it was a track like
what you see beyond。'
'This must be put right；' said the Chief Justice。
SUNDAY。
The truth is； I broke down yesterday almost as soon as I
began； and have been surreptitiously finishing the entry to…
day。 For all that I was much better； ate all the time； and
had no fever。 The day was otherwise uneventful。 I am
reminded； I had another visitor on Friday； and Fanny and
Lloyd； as they returned from a forest raid； met in our
desert； untrodden road； first Father Didier； Keeper of the
conscience of Mataafa； the rising star； and next the Chief
justice； sole stay of Laupepa； the present and unsteady star；
and remember； a few days before we were close to the sick bed
and entertained by the amateur physician of Tamasese； the
late and sunken star。 'That is the fun of this place；'
observed Lloyd； 'everybody you meet is so important。'
Everybody is also so gloomy。 It will come to war again； is
the opinion of all the well informed … and before that to
many bankruptcies； and after that； as usual； to famine。
Here； under the microscope； we can see history at work。
WEDNESDAY。
I have been very neglectful。 A return to work； perhaps
premature； but necessary； has used up all my possible
energies and made me acquainted with the living headache。 I
just jot down some of the past notabilia。 Yesterday B。； a
carpenter； and K。； my （unsuccessful） white man； were absent
all morning from their work； I was working myself； where I
hear every sound with morbid certainty； and I can testify
that not a hammer fell。 Upon inquiry I found they had passed
the morning making ice with our ice machine and taking the
horizon with a spirit level！ I had no sooner heard this than
… a violent headache set in； I am a real employer of labour
now； and have much of the ship captain when aroused； and if I
had a headache； I believe both these gentlemen had aching
hearts。 I promise you； the late … was to the front； and K。；
who was the most guilty； yet （in a sense） the least
blameable； having the brains and character of a canary…bird；
fared none the better for B。's repartees。 I hear them hard
at work this morning； so the menace may be blessed。 It was
just after my dinner； just before theirs； that I administered
my redoubtable tongue … it is really redoubtable … to these
skulkers （Paul used to triumph over Mr。 J。 for weeks。 'I am
very sorry for you；' he would say； 'you're going to have a
talk with Mr。 Stevenson when he comes home： you don't know
what that is！'） In fact； none of them do； till they get it。
I have known K。； for instance； for months； he has never heard
me complain； or take notice； unless it were to praise； I have
used him always as my guest； and there seems to be something
in my appearance which suggests endless； ovine long…
suffering！ We sat in the upper verandah all evening； and
discussed the price of iron roofing； and the state of the
draught…horses； with Innes； a new man we have taken； and who
seems to promise well。
One thing embarrasses me。 No one ever seems to understand my
attitude about that book； the stuff sent was never meant for
other than a first state； I never meant it to appear as a
book。 Knowing well that I have never had one hour of
inspiration since it was begun； and have only beaten out my
metal by brute force and patient repetition； I hoped some day
to get a 'spate of style' and burnish it … fine mixed
metaphor。 I am now so sick that I intend； when the Letters
are done and some more written that will be wanted； simply to
make a book of it by the pruning…knife。
I cannot fight longer； I am sensible of having done worse
than I hoped； worse than I feared； all I can do now is to do
the best I can for the future； and clear the book； like a
piece of bush； with axe and cutlass。 Even to produce the MS。
of this will occupy me； at the most favourable opinion； till
the middle of next year； really five years were wanting； when
I could have made a book； but I have a family； and … perhaps
I could not make the book after all。
CHAPTER VIII
APRIL 29TH； '91。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … I begin again。 I was awake this morning
about half…pas