按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
How if he should put dynamite under the gaol； and in case of
an attempted rescue blow up prison and all？ He went to the
President； who agreed； he went to the American man…of…war for
the dynamite and machine； was refused； and got it at last
from the Wreckers。 The thing began to leak out； and there
arose a muttering in town。 People had no fancy for amateur
explosions； for one thing。 For another； it did not clearly
appear that it was legal； the men had been condemned to six
months' prison； which they were peaceably undergoing； they
had not been condemned to death。 And lastly； it seemed a
somewhat advanced example of civilisation to set before
barbarians。 The mutter in short became a storm； and
yesterday； while I was down； a cutter was chartered； and the
prisoners were suddenly banished to the Tokelaus。 Who has
changed the sentence？ We are going to stir in the dynamite
matter； we do not want the natives to fancy us consenting to
such an outrage。
Fanny has returned from her trip； and on the whole looks
better。 The HIGH WOODS are under way； and their name is now
the BEACH OF FALESA； and the yarn is cured。 I have about
thirty pages of it done； it will be fifty to seventy I
suppose。 No supernatural trick at all； and escaped out of it
quite easily； can't think why I was so stupid for so long。
Mighty glad to have Fanny back to this 'Hell of the South
Seas；' as the German Captain called it。 What will
Cedarcrantz think when he comes back？ To do him justice； had
he been here； this Manono hash would not have been。
Here is a pretty thing。 When Fanny was in Fiji all the Samoa
and Tokelau folks were agog about our 'flash' house； but the
whites had never heard of it。
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON；
Author of THE BEACH OF FALESA。
CHAPTER XI
SEPT。 28。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … Since I last laid down my pen； I have
written and rewritten THE BEACH OF FALESA； something like
sixty thousand words of sterling domestic fiction （the story；
you will understand； is only half that length）； and now I
don't want to write any more again for ever； or feel so； and
I've got to overhaul it once again to my sorrow。 I was all
yesterday revising； and found a lot of slacknesses and （what
is worse in this kind of thing） some literaryisms。 One of
the puzzles is this： It is a first person story … a trader
telling his own adventure in an island。 When I began I
allowed myself a few liberties； because I was afraid of the
end； now the end proved quite easy； and could be done in the
pace； so the beginning remains about a quarter tone out （in
places）； but I have rather decided to let it stay so。 The
problem is always delicate； it is the only thing that worries
me in first person tales； which otherwise （quo' Alan） 'set
better wi' my genius。' There is a vast deal of fact in the
story； and some pretty good comedy。 It is the first
realistic South Sea story； I mean with real South Sea
character and details of life。 Everybody else who has tried；
that I have seen； got carried away by the romance； and ended
in a kind of sugar…candy sham epic； and the whole effect was
lost … there was no etching； no human grin； consequently no
conviction。 Now I have got the smell and look of the thing a
good deal。 You will know more about the South Seas after you
have read my little tale than if you had read a library。 As
to whether any one else will read it； I have no guess。 I am
in an off time； but there is just the possibility it might
make a hit； for the yarn is good and melodramatic； and there
is quite a love affair … for me； and Mr。 Wiltshire （the
narrator） is a huge lark； though I say it。 But there is
always the exotic question； and everything； the life； the
place； the dialects … trader's talk； which is a strange
conglomerate of literary expressions and English and American
slang； and Beach de Mar； or native English； … the very trades
and hopes and fears of the characters； are all novel； and may
be found unwelcome to that great； hulking； bullering whale；
the public。
Since I wrote； I have been likewise drawing up a document to
send it to the President； it has been dreadfully delayed； not
by me； but to…day they swear it will be sent in。 A list of
questions about the dynamite report are herein laid before
him； and considerations suggested why he should answer。
OCTOBER 5TH。
Ever since my last snatch I have been much chivied about over
the President business； his answer has come； and is an
evasion accompanied with schoolboy insolence； and we are
going to try to answer it。 I drew my answer and took it down
yesterday； but one of the signatories wants another paragraph
added； which I have not yet been able to draw； and as to the
wisdom of which I am not yet convinced。
NEXT DAY； OCT。 7TH； THE RIGHT DAY。
We are all in rather a muddled state with our President
affair。 I do loathe politics； but at the same time； I cannot
stand by and have the natives blown in the air treacherously
with dynamite。 They are still quiet； how long this may
continue I do not know； though of course by mere prescription
the Government is strengthened； and is probably insured till
the next taxes fall due。 But the unpopularity of the whites
is growing。 My native overseer； the great Henry Simele；
announced to…day that he was 'weary of whites upon the beach。
All too proud；' said this veracious witness。 One of the
proud ones had threatened yesterday to cut off his head with
a bush knife！ These are 'native outrages'； honour bright；
and setting theft aside； in which the natives are active；
this is the main stream of irritation。 The natives are
generally courtly； far from always civil； but really gentle；
and with a strong sense of honour of their own； and certainly
quite as much civilised as our dynamiting President。
We shall be delighted to see Kipling。 I go to bed usually
about half…past eight； and my lamp is out before ten； I
breakfast at six。 We may say roughly we have no soda water
on the island； and just now truthfully no whisky。 I HAVE
heard the chimes at midnight； now no more； I guess。 BUT …
Fanny and I； as soon as we can get coins for it； are coming
to Europe； not to England： I am thinking of Royat。 Bar wars。
If not； perhaps the Apennines might give us a mountain refuge
for two months or three in summer。 How is that for high？
But the money must be all in hand first。
OCTOBER 13TH。
How am I to describe my life these last few days？ I have
been wholly swallowed up in politics； a wretched business；
with fine elements of farce in it too； which repay a man in
passing； involving many dark and many moonlight rides； secret
counsels which are at once divulged； sealed letters which are
read aloud in confidence to the neighbours； and a mass of
fudge and fun