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！
first ford； was spoken to by a girl； and immediately said
goodbye and plunged into the bush； the girl had told him
there was a war party out from Mulinuu； and a little further
on； as we stopped to sketch a flag of truce； the beating of
drums and the sound of a bugle from that direction startled
us。 But we saw nothing； and I believe Mulinuu is （at least
at present） incapable of any act of offence。 One good job；
these threats to my home and family take away all my childish
temptation to go out and fight。 Our force must be here； to
protect ourselves。 I see panic rising among the whites； I
hear the shrill note of it in their voices； and they talk
already about a refuge on the war ships。 There are two here；
both German； and the ORLANDO is expected presently。
SUNDAY 9TH JULY。
Well； the war has at last begun。 For four or five days； Apia
has been filled by these poor children with their faces
blacked； and the red handkerchief about their brows； that
makes the Malietoa uniform； and the boats have been coming in
from the windward； some of them 50 strong； with a drum and a
bugle on board … the bugle always ill…played … and a sort of
jester leaping and capering on the sparred nose of the boat；
and the whole crew uttering from time to time a kind of
menacing ululation。 Friday they marched out to the bush； and
yesterday morning we heard that some had returned to their
houses for the night； as they found it 'so uncomfortable。'
After dinner a messenger came up to me with a note； that the
wounded were arriving at the Mission House。 Fanny； Lloyd and
I saddled and rode off with a lantern； it was a fine starry
night； though pretty cold。 We left the lantern at Tanuga…
manono； and then down in the starlight。 I found Apia； and
myself； in a strange state of flusteration； my own excitement
was gloomy and （I may say） truculent； others appeared
imbecile； some sullen。 The best place in the whole town was
the hospital。 A longish frame…house it was； with a big table
in the middle for operations； and ten Samoans； each with an
average of four sympathisers； stretched along the walls。
Clarke was there； steady as a die； Miss Large； little
spectacled angel； showed herself a real trump； the nice；
clean； German orderlies in their white uniforms looked and
meant business。 （I hear a fine story of Miss Large … a cast…
iron teetotaller … going to the public…house for a bottle of
brandy。）
The doctors were not there when I arrived； but presently it
was observed that one of the men was going cold。 He was a
magnificent Samoan； very dark； with a noble aquiline
countenance； like an Arab； I suppose； and was surrounded by
seven people； fondling his limbs as he lay： he was shot
through both lungs。 And an orderly was sent to the town for
the （German naval） doctors； who were dining there。 Meantime
I found an errand of my own。 Both Clarke and Miss Large
expressed a wish to have the public hall； of which I am
chairman； and I set off down town； and woke people out of
their beds； and got a committee together； and （with a great
deal of difficulty from one man； whom we finally overwhelmed）
got the public hall for them。 Bar the one man； the committee
was splendid； and agreed in a moment to share the expense if
the shareholders object。 Back to the hospital about 11。30；
found the German doctors there。 Two men were going now； one
that was shot in the bowels … he was dying rather hard； in a
gloomy stupor of pain and laudanum； silent； with contorted
face。 The chief； shot through the lungs； was lying on one
side； awaiting the last angel； his family held his hands and
legs； they were all speechless； only one woman suddenly
clasped his knee； and 'keened' for the inside of five
seconds； and fell silent again。 Went home； and to bed about
two A。M。 What actually passed seems undiscoverable； but the
Mataafas were surely driven back out of Vaitele； that is a
blow to them； and the resistance was far greater than had
been anticipated … which is a blow to the Laupepas。 All
seems to indicate a long and bloody war。
Frank's house in Mulinuu was likewise filled with wounded；
many dead bodies were brought in； I hear with certainty of
five； wrapped in mats； and a pastor goes to…morrow to the
field to bring others。 The Laupepas brought in eleven heads
to Mulinuu； and to the great horror and consternation of the
native mind； one proved to be a girl； and was identified as
that of a Taupou … or Maid of the Village … from Savaii。 I
hear this morning； with great relief； that it has been
returned to Malie； wrapped in the most costly silk
handkerchiefs； and with an apologetic embassy。 This could
easily happen。 The girl was of course attending on her
father with ammunition； and got shot； her hair was cut short
to make her father's war head…dress … even as our own Sina's
is at this moment； and the decollator was probably； in his
red flurry of fight； wholly unconscious of her sex。 I am
sorry for him in the future； he must make up his mind to many
bitter jests … perhaps to vengeance。 But what an end to one
chosen for her beauty and； in the time of peace； watched over
by trusty crones and hunchbacks！
EVENING。
Can I write or not？ I played lawn tennis in the morning； and
after lunch down with Graham to Apia。 Ulu； he that was shot
in the lungs； still lives； he that was shot in the bowels is
gone to his fathers； poor； fierce child！ I was able to be of
some very small help； and in the way of helping myself to
information； to prove myself a mere gazer at meteors。 But
there seems no doubt the Mataafas for the time are scattered；
the most of our friends are involved in this disaster； and
Mataafa himself … who might have swept the islands a few
months ago … for him to fall so poorly； doubles my regret。
They say the Taupou had a gun and fired； probably an excuse
manufactured EX POST FACTO。 I go down to…morrow at 12； to
stay the afternoon； and help Miss Large。 In the hospital to…
day； when I first entered it； there were no attendants； only
the wounded and their friends； all equally sleeping and their
heads poised upon the wooden pillows。 There is a pretty
enough boy there； slightly wounded； whose fate is to be
envied： two girls； and one of the most beautiful； with
beaming eyes； tend him and sleep upon his pillow。 In the
other corner； another young man； very patient and brave； lies
wholly deserted。 Yet he seems to me far the better of the
two； but not so pretty！ Heavens； what a difference that
makes； in our not very well proportioned bodies and our
finely hideous faces； the 1…32nd … rather the 1…64th … this
way or that！ Sixteen heads in all at Mulinuu。 I am so stiff
I can scarce move without a howl。
MONDAY； 10TH。
Some news that Mataafa is gone to Savaii by way of Manono；
this may mea