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the President （whose house we were then passing） doubtless
started at the sounds。 It was nine when we got to the hotel；
at first no food was to be found； but we skirmished up some
bread and cheese and beer and brandy； and （having changed our
wet clothes for the rather less wet in our bags） supped on
the verandah。
SATURDAY 28TH。 I was wakened about 6。30； long past my usual
hour； by a benevolent passer…by。 My turtle lay on the
verandah at my door； and the man woke me to tell me it was
dead； as it had been when we put it on board the day before。
All morning I ran the gauntlet of men and women coming up to
me： 'Mr。 Stevenson； your turtle is dead。' I gave half of it
to the hotel keeper； so that his cook should cut it up； and
we got a damaged shell； and two splendid meals； beefsteak one
day and soup the next。 The horses came for us about 9。30。
It was waterspouting； we were drenched before we got out of
the town； the road was a fine going Highland trout stream； it
thundered deep and frequent； and my mother's horse would not
better on a walk。 At last she took pity on us； and very
nobly proposed that Belle and I should ride ahead。 We were
mighty glad to do so； for we were cold。 Presently； I said I
should ride back for my mother； but it thundered again； Belle
is afraid of thunder； and I decided to see her through the
forest before I returned for my other hen … I may say； my
other wet hen。 About the middle of the wood； where it is
roughest and steepest； we met three pack…horses with barrels
of lime…juice。 I piloted Belle past these … it is not very
easy in such a road … and then passed them again myself； to
pilot my mother。 This effected； it began to thunder again；
so I rode on hard after Belle。 When I caught up with her；
she was singing Samoan hymns to support her terrors！ We were
all back； changed； and at table by lunch time； 11 A。M。 Nor
have any of us been the worse for it sinsyne。 That is pretty
good for a woman of my mother's age and an invalid of my
standing； above all； as Tauilo was laid up with a bad cold；
probably increased by rage。
FRIDAY； 3RD JUNE。
On Wednesday the club could not be held； and I must ride down
town and to and fro all afternoon delivering messages； then
dined and rode up by the young moon。 I had plenty news when
I got back； there is great talk in town of my deportation： it
is thought they have written home to Downing Street
requesting my removal； which leaves me not much alarmed； what
I do rather expect is that H。 J。 Moors and I may be haled up
before the C。 J。 to stand a trial for LESE…Majesty。 Well；
we'll try and live it through。
The rest of my history since Monday has been unadulterated
DAVID BALFOUR。 In season and out of season； night and day；
David and his innocent harem … let me be just； he never has
more than the two … are on my mind。 Think of David Balfour
with a pair of fair ladies … very nice ones too … hanging
round him。 I really believe David is as a good character as
anybody has a right to ask for in a novel。 I have finished
drafting Chapter XX。 to…day； and feel it all ready to froth
when the spigot is turned。
O I forgot … and do forget。 What did I mean？ A waft of
cloud has fallen on my mind； and I will write no more。
WEDNESDAY； I BELIEVE； 8TH JUNE。
Lots of David； and lots of David； and the devil any other
news。 Yesterday we were startled by great guns firing a
salute； and to…day Whitmee （missionary） rode up to lunch； and
we learned it was the CURACOA come in； the ship （according to
rumour） in which I was to be deported。 I went down to meet
my fate； and the captain is to dine with me Saturday； so I
guess I am not going this voyage。 Even with the
particularity with which I write to you； how much of my life
goes unexpressed； my troubles with a madman by the name of …；
a genuine living lunatic； I believe； and jolly dangerous； my
troubles about poor …； all these have dropped out； yet for
moments they were very instant； and one of them is always
present with me。
I have finished copying Chapter XXI。 of David … 'SOLUS CUM
SOLA； we travel together。' Chapter XXII。； 'SOLUS CUM SOLA；
we keep house together；' is already drafted。 To the end of
XXI。 makes more than 150 pages of my manuscript … damn this
hair … and I only designed the book to run to about 200； but
when you introduce the female sect； a book does run away with
you。 I am very curious to see what you will think of my two
girls。 My own opinion is quite clear； I am in love with
both。 I foresee a few pleasant years of spiritual
flirtations。 The creator （if I may name myself； for the sake
of argument； by such a name） is essentially unfaithful。 For
the duration of the two chapters in which I dealt with Miss
Grant； I totally forgot my heroine； and even … but this is a
flat secret … tried to win away David。 I think I must try
some day to marry Miss Grant。 I'm blest if I don't think
I've got that hair out！ which seems triumph enough； so I
conclude。
TUESDAY。
Your infinitesimal correspondence has reached me； and I have
the honour to refer to it with scorn。 It contains only one
statement of conceivable interest； that your health is
better； the rest is null； and so far as disquisitory unsound。
I am all right； but David Balfour is ailing； this came from
my visit to the man…of…war； where I had a cup of tea； and the
most of that night walked the verandah with extraordinary
convictions of guilt and ruin； many of which （but not all）
proved to have fled with the day； taking David along with
them； he R。I。P。 in Chapter XXII。
On Saturday I went down to the town； and fetched up Captain
Gibson to dinner； Sunday I was all day at Samoa； and had a
pile of visitors。 Yesterday got my mail； including your
despicable sheet； was fooled with a visit from the high chief
Asi； went down at 4 P。M。 to my Samoan lesson from Whitmee … I
think I shall learn from him； he does not fool me with
cockshot rules that are demolished next day； but professes
ignorance like a man； the truth is； the grammar has still to
be expiscated … dined with Haggard； and got home about nine。
WEDNESDAY。
The excellent Clarke up here almost all day yesterday； a man
I esteem and like to the soles of his boots； I prefer him to
anyone in Samoa； and to most people in the world； a real good
missionary； with the inestimable advantage of having grown up
a layman。 Pity they all can't get that！ It recalls my old
proposal； which delighted Lady Taylor so much； that every
divinity student should be thirty years old at least before
he was admitted。 Boys switched out of college into a pulpit；
what chance have they？ That any should do well amazes me；
and the most are just what was to be expected。
SATURDAY。
I must tell you of our feast。 It was long promised to the
boys； and came off yesterday in one of their new houses。 My
good Simele arrived from Savaii that morning asking for
political advice； then we had Tauilo； Elena's father； a
talking man of Tauilo's family； Talolo's cousin； and a boy of
Simele's family； who attended on his dignity； then Metu； the
meat…man … you have never heard of him； but he is a great
person in our household … brought a lady and a boy … and
there was another infant … eight guests in all。 And we sat
down thirty strong。 You should have seen our procession；
going （about two o'clock）； all in our best clothes； to the
hall of feasting！ All in our Sunday's best。 The new house
had been hurriedly finished； the rafters decorated with
flowers； the floor spread； native style； with green leaves；
we had given a big porker； twenty…five pounds of fresh beef；
a tin of biscuit； cocoanuts； etc。 Our places were all
arranged with much care； the native ladies of the house
facing our party； the sides filled up by the men； the guests；
please observe： the two chief people； male and female； were
placed with our family； the rest between S。 and the native
ladies。 After the feast was over； we had kava； and the
calling of the kava was a very elaborate affair； and I
thought had like to have made Simele very angry； he is really
a considerable chief； but he and Tauilo were not called till
after all our family； AND THE GUESTS； I suppose the principle
being that he was still regarded as one of the household。 I
forgot to say that our black boy did not turn up when the
feast was ready。 Off went the two cooks； found him；
decorated him with huge red hibiscus flowers … he was in a
very dirty under shirt … brought him back between them like a
reluctant maid； and； thrust him into a place between Faauma
and Elena； where he was petted and ministered to。 When his
turn came in the kava drinking … and you may be sure； in
the