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ies； and morals for the engravings executed； and all would be duly printed together。 Stevenson's thorough enjoyment of the picture…gallery； and his goodness to Lloyd； becoming himself a very boy for the nonce； were delightful to witness and in degree to share。 Wherever they were … at Braemar； in Edinburgh； at Davos Platz； or even at Silverado … the engraving and printing went on。 The mention of the picture…gallery suggests that it was out of his interest in the colour…drawing and the picture…gallery that his first published story； TREASURE ISLAND； grew； as we shall see。
I have some copies of the rude printing…press productions； inexpressibly quaint； grotesque； a kind of literary horse…play； yet with a certain squint…eyed； sprawling genius in it； and innocent childish Rabelaisian mirth of a sort。 At all events I cannot look at the slight memorials of that time； which I still possess； without laughing afresh till my eyes are dewy。 Stevenson； as I understood； began TREASURE ISLAND more to entertain Lloyd Osbourne than anything else； the chapters being regularly read to the family circle as they were written； and with scarcely a purpose beyond。 The lad became Stevenson's trusted companion and collaborator … clearly with a touch of genius。
I have before me as I write some of these funny momentoes of that time； carefully kept； often looked at。 One of them is； 〃THE BLACK CANYON； OR； WILD ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST： a Tale of Instruction and Amusement for the Young； by Samuel L。 Osbourne； printed by the author； Davos Platz；〃 with the most remarkable cuts。 It would not do some of the sensationalists anything but good to read it even at this day； since many points in their art are absurdly caricatured。 Another is 〃MORAL EMBLEMS； A COLLECTION OF CUTS AND VERSES； by R。 L。 Stevenson； author of the BLUE SCALPER； etc。； etc。 Printers； S。 L。 Osbourne and Company； Davos Platz。〃 Here are the lines to a rare piece of grotesque； titled A PEAK IN DARIEN …
'Broad…gazing on untrodden lands； See where adventurous Cortez stands； While in the heavens above his head； The eagle seeks its daily bread。 How aptly fact to fact replies； Heroes and eagles； hills and skies。 Ye； who contemn the fatted slave； Look on this emblem and be brave。〃
Another； THE ELEPHANT； has these lines …
〃See in the print how； moved by whim； Trumpeting Jumbo； great and grim； Adjusts his trunk； like a cravat； To noose that individual's hat； The Sacred Ibis in the distance； Joys to observe his bold resistance。〃
R。 L。 Stevenson wrote from Davos Platz； in sending me THE BLACK CANYON：
〃Sam sends as a present a work of his own。 I hope you feel flattered； for THIS IS SIMPLY THE FIRST TIME HE HAS EVER GIVEN ONE AWAY。 I have to buy my own works； I can tell you。〃
Later he said； in sending a second：
〃I own I have delayed this letter till I could forward the enclosed。 Remembering the night at Braemar； when we visited the picture…gallery； I hope it may amuse you： you see we do some publishing hereaway。〃
Delightfully suggestive and highly enjoyable； too； were the meetings in the little drawing…room after dinner； when the contrasted traits of father and son came into full play … when R。 L。 Stevenson would sometimes draw out a new view by bold； half… paradoxical assertion； or compel advance on the point from a new quarter by a searching question couched in the simplest language； or reveal his own latest conviction finally； by a few sentences as nicely rounded off as though they had been written； while he rose and gently moved about； as his habit was； in the course of those more extended remarks。 Then a chapter or two of THE SEA…COOK would be read； with due pronouncement on the main points by one or other of the family audience。
The reading of the book is one thing。 It was quite another thing to hear Stevenson as he stood reading it aloud； with his hand stretched out holding the manuscript； and his body gently swaying as a kind of rhythmical commentary on the story。 His fine voice； clear and keen it some of its tones； had a wonderful power of inflection and variation； and when he came to stand in the place of Silver you could almost have imagined you saw the great one…legged John Silver； joyous…eyed； on the rolling sea。 Yes； to read it in print was good； but better yet to hear Stevenson read it。
CHAPTER II … TREASURE ISLAND AND SOME REMINISCENCES
WHEN I left Braemar； I carried with me a considerable portion of the MS。 of TREASURE ISLAND； with an outline of the rest of the story。 It originally bore the odd title of THE SEA…COOK； and； as I have told before； I showed it to Mr Henderson； the proprietor of the YOUNG FOLKS' PAPER； who came to an arrangement with Mr Stevenson； and the story duly appeared in its pages； as well as the two which succeeded it。
Stevenson himself in his article in THE IDLER for August 1894 （reprinted in MY FIRST BOOK volume and in a late volume of the EDINBURGH EDITION） has recalled some of the circumstances connected with this visit of mine to Braemar； as it bore on the destination of TREASURE ISLAND：
〃And now； who should come dropping in； EX MACHINA； but Dr Japp； like the disguised prince； who is to bring down the curtain upon peace and happiness in the last act； for he carried in his pocket； not a horn or a talisman； but a publisher； in fact； ready to unearth new writers for my old friend Mr Henderson's YOUNG FOLKS。 Even the ruthlessness of a united family recoiled before the extreme measure of inflicting on our guest the mutilated members of THE SEA…COOK； at the same time； we would by no means stop our readings； and accordingly the tale was begun again at the beginning； and solemnly redelivered for the benefit of Dr Japp。 From that moment on； I have thought highly of his critical faculty； for when he left us； he carried away the manuscript in his portmanteau。
〃TREASURE ISLAND … it was Mr Henderson who deleted the first title； THE SEA…COOK … appeared duly in YOUNG FOLKS； where it figured in the ignoble midst without woodcuts； and attracted not the least attention。 I did not care。 I liked the tale myself； for much the same reason as my father liked the beginning： it was my kind of picturesque。 I was not a little proud of John Silver also； and to this day rather admire that smooth and formidable adventurer。 What was infinitely more exhilarating； I had passed a landmark。 I had finished a tale and written The End upon my manuscript； as I had not done since THE PENTLAND RISING； when I was a boy of sixteen； not yet at college。 In truth； it was so by a lucky set of accidents： had not Dr Japp come on his visit； had not the tale flowed from me with singular ease； it must have been laid aside； like its predecessors； and found a circuitous and unlamented way to the fire。 Purists may suggest it would have been better so。 I am not of that mind。 The tale seems to have given much pleasure； and it brought （or was the means of bringing） fire； food； and wine to a deserving family in which I took an interest。 I need scarcely say I mean my own。〃
He himself gives a goodly list of the predecessors wh