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visit of mine to the gaol was just a little bit risky； we had
several causes for anxiety； it MIGHT have been put up； to
connect with a Tamasese rising。 Tusitala and his family
would be good hostages。 On the other hand； there were the
Mulinuu people all about。 We could see the anxiety of
Captain Wurmbrand； no less anxious to have us go； than he had
been to see us come； he was deadly white and plainly had a
bad headache； in the noisy scene。 Presently； the noise grew
uproarious； there was a rush at the gate … a rush in； not a
rush out … where the two sentries still stood passive； Auilua
leaped from his place （it was then that I got the name of
Ajax for him） and the next moment we heard his voice roaring
and saw his mighty figure swaying to and fro in the hurly…
burly。 As the deuce would have it； we could not understand a
word of what was going on。 It might be nothing more than the
ordinary 'grab racket' with which a feast commonly concludes；
it might be something worse。 We made what arrangements we
could for my tapa； fans； etc。； as well as for my five pigs；
my masses of fish； taro； etc。； and with great dignity； and
ourselves laden with ulas and other decorations； passed
between the sentries among the howling mob to our horses。
All's well that ends well。 Owing to Fanny and Belle； we had
to walk； and； as Lloyd said； 'he had at last ridden in a
circus。' The whole length of Apia we paced our triumphal
progress； past the King's palace； past the German firm at
Sogi … you can follow it on the map … amidst admiring
exclamations of 'MAWAIA' … beautiful … it may be rendered 'O
my！ ain't they dandy' … until we turned up at last into our
road as the dusk deepened into night。 It was really
exciting。 And there is one thing sure： no such feast was
ever made for a single family； and no such present ever given
to a single white man。 It is something to have been the hero
of it。 And whatever other ingredients there were；
undoubtedly gratitude was present。 As money value I have
actually gained on the transaction！
Your note arrived； little profit； I must say。 Scott has
already put his nose in； in ST。 IVES； sir； but his appearance
is not yet complete； nothing is in that romance； except the
story。 I have to announce that I am off work； probably for
six months。 I must own that I have overworked bitterly …
overworked … there； that's legible。 My hand is a thing that
was； and in the meanwhile so are my brains。 And here； in the
very midst； comes a plausible scheme to make Vailima pay；
which will perhaps let me into considerable expense just when
I don't want it。 You know the vast cynicism of my view of
affairs； and how readily and （as some people say） with how
much gusto I take the darker view？
Why do you not send me Jerome K。 Jerome's paper； and let me
see THE EBB TIDE as a serial？ It is always very important to
see a thing in different presentments。 I want every number。
Politically we begin the new year with every expectation of a
bust in 2 or 3 days； a bust which may spell destruction to
Samoa。 I have written to Baxter about his proposal。
CHAPTER XXXVI
VAILIMA；
JAN。 29TH； 1894。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … I had fully intended for your education and
moral health to fob you off with the meanest possible letter
this month； and unfortunately I find I will have to treat you
to a good long account of matters here。 I believe I have
told you before about Tui…ma…le…alii…fano and my taking him
down to introduce him to the Chief Justice。 Well； Tui came
back to Vailima one day in the blackest sort of spirits；
saying the war was decided； that he also must join in the
fight； and that there was no hope whatever of success。 He
must fight as a point of honour for his family and country；
and in his case； even if he escaped on the field of battle；
deportation was the least to be looked for。 He said he had a
letter of complaint from the Great Council of A'ana which he
wished to lay before the Chief Justice； and he asked me to
accompany him as if I were his nurse。 We went down about
dinner time； and by the way received from a lurking native
the famous letter in an official blue envelope gummed up to
the edges。 It proved to be a declaration of war； quite
formal； but with some variations that really made you bounce。
White residents were directly threatened； bidden to have
nothing to do with the King's party； not to receive their
goods in their houses； etc。； under pain of an accident。
However； the Chief Justice took it very wisely and mildly；
and between us； he and I and Tui made up a plan which has
proved successful … so far。 The war is over … fifteen chiefs
are this morning undergoing a curious double process of law；
comparable to a court martial； in which their complaints are
to be considered； and if possible righted； while their
conduct is to be criticised； perhaps punished。 Up to now；
therefore； it has been a most successful policy； but the
danger is before us。 My own feeling would decidedly be that
all would be spoiled by a single execution。 The great hope
after all lies in the knotless； rather flaccid character of
the people。 These are no Maoris。 All the powers that
Cedarcrantz let go by disuse the new C。 J。 is stealthily and
boldly taking back again； perhaps some others also。 He has
shamed the chiefs in Mulinuu into a law against taking heads；
with a punishment of six years' imprisonment and； for a
chief； degradation。 To him has been left the sole conduct of
this anxious and decisive inquiry。 If the natives stand it；
why； well！ But I am nervous。
CHAPTER XXXVII
FEB。 1894。
DEAR COLVIN； … By a reaction； when your letter is a little
decent； mine is to be naked and unashamed。 We have been much
exercised。 No one can prophesy here； of course； and the
balance still hangs trembling； but I THINK it will go for
peace。
The mail was very late this time； hence the paltryness of
this note。 When it came and I had read it； I retired with
THE EBB TIDE and read it all before I slept。 I did not dream
it was near as good； I am afraid I think it excellent。 A
little indecision about Attwater； not much。 It gives me
great hope； as I see I CAN work in that constipated； mosaic
manner； which is what I have to do just now with WEIR OF
HERMISTON。
We have given a ball； I send you a paper describing the
event。 We have two guests in the house； Captain…Count
Wurmbrand and Monsieur Albert de Lautreppe。 Lautreppe is
awfully nice … a quiet； gentlemanly fellow； GONFLE DE REVES；
as he describes himself … once a sculptor in the atelier of
Henry Crosse； he knows something of art； and is really a
resource to me。
Letter from Meredith very kind。 Have you seen no more of
Graham？
What about my grandfather？ The family history wi