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I wonder exceedingly if I have done anything at all good； and
who can tell me？ and why should I wish to know？ In so little
a while； I； and the English language； and the bones of my
descendants； will have ceased to be a memory！ And yet … and
yet … one would like to leave an image for a few years upon
men's minds … for fun。 This is a very dark frame of mind；
consequent on overwork and the conclusion of the excruciating
EBB TIDE。 Adieu。
What do you suppose should be done with THE EBB TIDE？ It
would make a volume of 200 pp。； on the other hand； I might
likely have some more stories soon： THE OWL； DEATH IN THE
POT； THE SLEEPER AWAKENED； all these are possible。 THE OWL
might be half as long； THE SLEEPER AWAKENED； ditto； DEATH IN
THE POT a deal shorter； I believe。 Then there's the GO…
BETWEEN； which is not impossible altogether。 THE OWL； THE
SLEEPER AWAKENED； and the GO…BETWEEN end reasonably well；
DEATH IN THE POT is an ungodly massacre。 O； well； THE OWL
only ends well in so far as some lovers come together； and
nobody is killed at the moment； but you know they are all
doomed； they are Chouan fellows。
FRIDAY； 9TH。
Well； the mail is in； no Blue…book； depressing letter from
C。； a long； amusing ramble from my mother； vast masses of
Romeike； they ARE going to war now； and what will that lead
to？ and what has driven； them to it but the persistent
misconduct of these two officials？ I know I ought to rewrite
the end of this bluidy EBB TIDE： well； I can't。 CEST PLUS
FORT QUE MOI； it has to go the way it is； and be jowned to
it！ From what I make out of the reviews； I think it would be
better not to republish THE EBB TIDE： but keep it for other
tales； if they should turn up。 Very amusing how the reviews
pick out one story and damn the rest I and it is always a
different one。 Be sure you send me the article from LE
TEMPS。
SATURDAY； 17TH。
Since I wrote this last； I have written a whole chapter of my
grandfather； and read it to…night； it was on the whole much
appreciated； and I kind of hope it ain't bad myself。 'Tis a
third writing； but it wants a fourth。 By next mail； I
believe I might send you 3 chapters。 That is to say FAMILY
ANNALS； THE SERVICE OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS； and THE BUILDING
OF THE BELL ROCK。 Possibly even 4 … A HOUSEFUL OF BOYS。 I
could finish my grandfather very easy now； my father and
Uncle Alan stop the way。 I propose to call the book：
NORTHERN LIGHTS： MEMOIRS OF A FAMILY of ENGINEERS。 I tell
you； it is going to be a good book。 My idea in sending Ms。
would be to get it set up； two proofs to me； one to Professor
Swan； Ardchapel； Helensburgh … mark it private and
confidential … one to yourself； and come on with criticisms！
But I'll have to see。 The total plan of the book is this …
i。 Domestic Annals。
ii。 The Service of the Northern Lights。
iii。 The Building of the Bell Rock。
iv。 A Houseful of Boys （or； 'The Family in Baxter's Place）。
v。 Education of an Engineer。
vi。 The Grandfather。
vii。 Alan Stevenson。
viii。 Thomas Stevenson。
There will be an Introduction 'The Surname of Stevenson'
which has proved a mighty queer subject of inquiry。 But；
Lord！ if I were among libraries。
SUNDAY； 18TH。
I shall put in this envelope the end of the ever…to…be…
execrated EBB TIDE； or Stevenson's Blooming Error。 Also； a
paper apart for DAVID BALFOUR。 The slips must go in another
enclosure； I suspect； owing to their beastly bulk。 Anyway；
there are two pieces of work off my mind； and though I could
wish I had rewritten a little more of DAVID； yet it was
plainly to be seen it was impossible。 All the points
indicated by you have been brought out； but to rewrite the
end； in my present state of over…exhaustion and fiction …
phobia； would have been madness； and I let it go as it stood。
My grandfather is good enough for me； these days。 I do not
work any less； on the whole； if anything； a little more。 But
it is different。
The slips go to you in four packets； I hope they are what
they should be； but do not think so。 I am at a pitch of
discontent with fiction in all its form … or my forms … that
prevents me being able to be even interested。 I have had to
stop all drink； smoking I am trying to stop also。 It annoys
me dreadfully： and yet if I take a glass of claret； … I have
a headache the next day！ O； and a good headache too； none of
your trifles。
Well； sir； here's to you； and farewell。 … Yours ever。
R。 L。 S。
CHAPTER XXXI
SATURDAY； 24TH （？） JUNE。
MY DEAR COLVIN … Yesterday morning； after a day of absolute
temperance； I awoke to the worst headache I had had yet。
Accordingly； temperance was said farewell to； quinine
instituted； and I believe my pains are soon to be over。 We
wait； with a kind of sighing impatience； for war to be
declared； or to blow finally off； living in the meanwhile in
a kind of children's hour of firelight and shadow and
preposterous tales； the king seen at night galloping up our
road upon unknown errands and covering his face as he passes
our cook； Mataafa daily surrounded （when he awakes） with
fresh 'white man's boxes' （query； ammunition？） and professing
to be quite ignorant of where they come from； marches of
bodies of men across the island； concealment of ditto in the
bush； the coming on and off of different chiefs； and such a
mass of ravelment and rag…tag as the devil himself could not
unwind。
WEDNESDAY； 28TH JUNE。
Yesterday it rained with but little intermission； but I was
jealous of news。 Graham and I got into the saddle about 1
o'clock and off down to town。 In town； there was nothing but
rumours going； in the night drums had been beat； the men had
run to arms on Mulinuu from as far as Vaiala； and the alarm
proved false。 There were no signs of any gathering in Apia
proper； and the Secretary of State had no news to give。 I
believed him； too； for we are brither Scots。 Then the
temptation came upon me strong to go on to the ford and see
the Mataafa villages； where we heard there was more afoot。
Off we rode。 When we came to Vaimusu； the houses were very
full of men； but all seemingly unarmed。 Immediately beyond
is that river over which we passed in our scamper with Lady
Jersey； it was all solitary。 Three hundred yards beyond is a
second ford； and there … I came face to face with war。 Under
the trees on the further bank sat a picket of seven men with
Winchesters； their faces bright； their eyes ardent。 As we
came up； they did not speak or move； only their eyes followed
us。 The horses drank； and we passed the ford。 'Talofa！' I
said； and the commandant of the picket said 'Talofa'； and
then； when we were almost by； remembered himself and asked
where we were going。 'To Faamuina；' I said； and we rode on。
Every house by th