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dream。 Listen； I quote from Pratt … this is good Samoan； not
canine …
O le afa；
1 2 3
ua taalili ai
4
le ulu vao；
1
ua pa mai
le faititili。
1 almost WA； 2 the two A'S just distinguished； 3 the AI is
practically suffixed to the verb； 4 almost VOW。 The
excursion has prolonged itself。
I started by the LUBECK to meet Lloyd and my mother； there
were many reasons for and against； the main reason against
was the leaving of Fanny alone in her blessed cabin； which
has been somewhat remedied by my carter； Mr。 …； putting up in
the stable and messing with her； but perhaps desire of change
decided me not well； though I do think I ought to see an
oculist； being very blind indeed； and sometimes unable to
read。 Anyway I left； the only cabin passenger； four and a
kid in the second cabin； and a dear voyage it had like to
have proved。 Close to Fiji （choose a worse place on the map）
we broke our shaft early one morning； and when or where we
might expect to fetch land or meet with any ship； I would
like you to tell me。 The Pacific is absolutely desert。 I
have sailed there now some years； and scarce ever seen a ship
except in port or close by； I think twice。 It was the
hurricane season besides； and hurricane waters。 Well； our
chief engineer got the shaft … it was the middle crank shaft
… mended； thrice it was mended； and twice broke down； but now
keeps up … only we dare not stop； for it is almost impossible
to start again。 The captain in the meanwhile crowded her
with sail； fifteen sails in all； every stay being gratified
with a stay…sail； a boat…boom sent aloft for a maintop…
gallant yard； and the derrick of a crane brought in service
as bowsprit。 All the time we have had a fine； fair wind and
a smooth sea； to…day at noon our run was 203 miles （if you
please！）； and we are within some 360 miles of Sydney。
Probably there has never been a more gallant success； and I
can say honestly it was well worked for。 No flurry； no high
words； no long faces； only hard work and honest thought； a
pleasant； manly business to be present at。 All the chances
were we might have been six weeks … ay； or three months at
sea … or never turned up at all； and now it looks as though
we should reach our destination some five days too late。
CHAPTER V
＇ON BOARD SHIP BETWEEN SYDNEY AND APIA； FEB。 1891。＇
MY DEAR COLVIN； … The JANET NICOLL stuff was rather worse
than I had looked for； you have picked out all that is fit to
stand； bar two others （which I don't dislike） … the Port of
Entry and the House of Temoana； that is for a present
opinion； I may condemn these also ere I have done。 By this
time you should have another Marquesan letter； the worst of
the lot； I think； and seven Paumotu letters； which are not
far out of the vein； as I wish it； I am in hopes the Hawaiian
stuff is better yet： time will show； and time will make
perfect。 Is something of this sort practicable for the
dedication？
TERRA MARIQUE
PER PERICULA PER ARDUA
AMICAE COMITI
D。D。
AMANS VIATOR
'Tis a first shot concocted this morning in my berth： I had
always before been trying it in English； which insisted on
being either insignificant or fulsome： I cannot think of a
better word than COMES； there being not the shadow of a Latin
book on board； yet sure there is some other。 Then VIATOR
（though it SOUNDS all right） is doubtful； it has too much；
perhaps； the sense of wayfarer？ Last； will it mark
sufficiently that I mean my wife？ And first； how about
blunders？ I scarce wish it longer。
Have had a swingeing sharp attack in Sydney； beating the
fields for two nights； Saturday and Sunday。 Wednesday was
brought on board； TEL QUEL； a wonderful wreck； and now；
Wednesday week； am a good deal picked up； but yet not quite a
Samson； being still groggy afoot and vague in the head。 My
chess； for instance； which is usually a pretty strong game；
and defies all rivalry aboard； is vacillating； devoid of
resource and observation； and hitherto not covered with
customary laurels。 As for work； it is impossible。 We shall
be in the saddle before long； no doubt； and the pen once more
couched。 You must not expect a letter under these
circumstances； but be very thankful for a note。 Once at
Samoa； I shall try to resume my late excellent habits； and
delight you with journals； you unaccustomed； I unaccustomed；
but it is never too late to mend。
It is vastly annoying that I cannot go even to Sydney without
an attack； and heaven knows my life was anodyne。 I only once
dined with anybody； at the club with Wise； worked all morning
… a terrible dead pull； a month only produced the imperfect
embryos of two chapters； lunched in the boarding…house；
played on my pipe； went out and did some of my messages；
dined at a French restaurant； and returned to play draughts；
whist； or Van John with my family。 This makes a cheery life
after Samoa； but it isn't what you call burning the candle at
both ends； is it？ （It appears to me not one word of this
letter will be legible by the time I am done with it； this
dreadful ink rubs off。） I have a strange kind of novel under
construction； it begins about 1660 and ends 1830； or perhaps
I may continue it to 1875 or so； with another life。 One；
two； three； four； five； six generations； perhaps seven；
figure therein； two of my old stories； 'Delafield' and
'Shovel；' are incorporated； it is to be told in the third
person； with some of the brevity of history； some of the
detail of romance。 THE SHOVELS OF NEWTON FRENCH will be the
name。 The idea is an old one； it was brought to birth by an
accident； a friend in the islands who picked up F。 Jenkin；
read a part； and said： 'Do you know； that's a strange book？
I like it； I don't believe the public will； but I like it。'
He thought it was a novel！ 'Very well；' said I； 'we'll see
whether the public will like it or not； they shall have the
chance。'
Yours ever；
R。 L。 S。
CHAPTER VI
FRIDAY； MARCH 19TH。
MY DEAR S。 C。； … You probably expect that now I am back at
Vailima I shall resume the practice of the diary letter。 A
good deal is changed。 We are more； solitude does not attend
me as before； the night is passed playing Van John for
shells； and； what is not less important； I have just
recovered from a severe illness； and am easily tired。
I will give you to…day。 I sleep now in one of the lower
rooms of the new house； where my wife has recently joined me。
We have two beds； an empty case for a table； a chair； a tin
basin； a bucket and a jug； next door in the dining…room； the
carpenters camp on the floor； which is covered with their
mosquito nets。 Before the sun rises； at 5。45 or 5。50； Paul
brings me tea； bread； and a couple of