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German Consul Becker and English Captain Hand； R。N。
On Dec。 30th I rode down with Belle to go to （if you please）
the Fancy Ball。 When I got to the beach； I found the
barometer was below 29 degrees； the wind still in the east
and steady； but a huge offensive continent of clouds and
vapours forming to leeward。 It might be a hurricane； I dared
not risk getting caught away from my work； and； leaving
Belle； returned at once to Vailima。 Next day … yesterday …
it was a tearer； we had storm shutters up； I sat in my room
and wrote by lamplight … ten pages； if you please； seven of
them draft； and some of these compiled from as many as seven
different and conflicting authorities； so that was a brave
day's work。 About two a huge tree fell within sixty paces of
our house； a little after； a second went； and we sent out
boys with axes and cut down a third； which was too near the
house； and buckling like a fishing rod。 At dinner we had the
front door closed and shuttered； the back door open； the lamp
lit。 The boys in the cook…house were all out at the cook…
house door； where we could see them looking in and smiling。
Lauilo and Faauma waited on us with smiles。 The excitement
was delightful。 Some very violent squalls came as we sat
there； and every one rejoiced； it was impossible to help it；
a soul of putty had to sing。 All night it blew； the roof was
continually sounding under missiles； in the morning the
verandahs were half full of branches torn from the forest。
There was a last very wild squall about six； the rain； like a
thick white smoke； flying past the house in volleys； and as
swift； it seemed； as rifle balls； all with a strange；
strident hiss； such as I have only heard before at sea； and；
indeed； thought to be a marine phenomenon。 Since then the
wind has been falling with a few squalls； mostly rain。 But
our road is impassable for horses； we hear a schooner has
been wrecked and some native houses blown down in Apia； where
Belle is still and must remain a prisoner。 Lucky I returned
while I could！ But the great good is this； much bread…fruit
and bananas have been destroyed； if this be general through
the islands； famine will be imminent； and WHOEVER BLOWS THE
COALS； THERE CAN BE NO WAR。 Do I then prefer a famine to a
war？ you ask。 Not always； but just now。 I am sure the
natives do not want a war； I am sure a war would benefit no
one but the white officials； and I believe we can easily meet
the famine … or at least that it can be met。 That would give
our officials a legitimate opportunity to cover their past
errors。
JAN。 2ND。
I woke this morning to find the blow quite ended。 The heaven
was all a mottled gray； even the east quite colourless； the
downward slope of the island veiled in wafts of vapour； blue
like smoke； not a leaf stirred on the tallest tree； only；
three miles away below me on the barrier reef； I could see
the individual breakers curl and fall； and hear their
conjunct roaring rise； as it still rises at 1 P。M。； like the
roar of a thoroughfare close by。 I did a good morning's
work； correcting and clarifying my draft； and have now
finished for press eight chapters； ninety…one pages； of this
piece of journalism。 Four more chapters； say fifty pages；
remain to be done； I should gain my wager and finish this
volume in three months； that is to say； the end should leave
me per February mail； I cannot receive it back till the mail
of April。 Yes； it can be out in time； pray God that it be in
time to help。
How do journalists fetch up their drivel？ I aim only at
clearness and the most obvious finish； positively at no
higher degree of merit； not even at brevity … I am sure it
could have been all done； with double the time； in two…thirds
of the space。 And yet it has taken me two months to write
45；500 words； and； be damned to my wicked prowess； I am proud
of the exploit！ The real journalist must be a man not of
brass only； but bronze。 Chapter IX。 gapes for me； but I
shrink on the margin； and go on chattering to you。 This last
part will be much less offensive （strange to say） to the
Germans。 It is Becker they will never forgive me for； Knappe
I pity and do not dislike； Becker I scorn and abominate。
Here is the tableau。 I。 Elements of Discord： Native。 II。
Elements of Discord： Foreign。 III。 The Sorrows of Laupepa。
IV。 Brandeis。 V。 The Battle of Matautu。 VI。 Last Exploits
of Becker。 VII。 The Samoan Camps。 VIII。 Affairs of Lautii
and Fangalii。 IX。 'FUROR CONSULARIS。' X。 The Hurricane。
XI。 Stuebel Recluse。 XII。 The Present Government。 I
estimate the whole roughly at 70；000 words。 Should anybody
ever dream of reading it； it would be found amusing。
70000/300=233 printed pages； a respectable little five…bob
volume； to bloom unread in shop windows。 After that； I'll
have a spank at fiction。 And rest？ I shall rest in the
grave； or when I come to Italy。 If only the public will
continue to support me！ I lost my chance not dying； there
seems blooming little fear of it now。 I worked close on five
hours this morning； the day before； close on nine； and unless
I finish myself off with this letter； I'll have another hour
and a half； or AIBLINS TWA； before dinner。 Poor man； how you
must envy me； as you hear of these orgies of work； and you
scarce able for a letter。 But Lord； Colvin； how lucky the
situations are not reversed； for I have no situation； nor am
fit for any。 Life is a steigh brae。 Here； have at Knappe；
and no more clavers！
3RD。
There was never any man had so many irons in the fire； except
Jim Pinkerton。 I forgot to mention I have the most gallant
suggestion from Lang； with an offer of MS。 authorities； which
turns my brain。 It's all about the throne of Poland and
buried treasure in the Mackay country； and Alan Breck can
figure there in glory。
Yesterday； J。 and I set off to Blacklock's （American Consul）
who lives not far from that little village I have so often
mentioned as lying between us and Apia。 I had some questions
to ask him for my History； thence we must proceed to Vailele；
where I had also to cross…examine the plantation manager
about the battle there。 We went by a track I had never
before followed down the hill to Vaisigano； which flows here
in a deep valley； and was unusually full； so that the horses
trembled in the ford。 The whole bottom of the valley is full
of various streams posting between strips of forest with a
brave sound of waters。 In one place we had a glimpse of a
fall some way higher up； and then sparkling in sunlight in
the midst of the green valley。 Then up by a winding path
scarce accessible to a horse for steepness； to the other
side； and the open cocoanut glades of the plantation。 Here
we rode fast； did a mighty satisfactory afternoon's work at
the plantation house； an