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main characters： old Nettison； and the captain of the man of
war； the secondary。 Possible scenario。 Chapter I。。。。
CHAPTER VII
SATURDAY； APRIL 18TH。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … I got back on Monday night； after twenty…
three hours in an open boat； the keys were lost； the Consul
（who had promised us a bottle of Burgundy） nobly broke open
his store…room； and we got to bed about midnight。 Next
morning the blessed Consul promised us horses for the
daybreak； forgot all about it； worthy man； set us off at last
in the heat of the day； and by a short cut which caused
infinite trouble； and we were not home till dinner。 I was
extenuated； and have had a high fever since； or should have
been writing before。 To…day for the first time； I risk it。
Tuesday I was pretty bad； Wednesday had a fever to kill a
horse； Thursday I was better； but still out of ability to do
aught but read awful trash。 This is the time one misses
civilisation； I wished to send out for some police novels；
Montepin would have about suited my frozen brain。 It is a
bother when all one's thought turns on one's work in some
sense or other； could not even think yesterday； I took to
inventing dishes by way of entertainment。 Yesterday； while I
lay asleep in the afternoon； a very lucky thing happened； the
Chief Justice came to call； met one of our employes on the
road； and was shown what I had done to the road。
'Is this the road across the island？' he asked。
'The only one；' said Innes。
'And has one man done all this？'
'Three times；' said the trusty Innes。 'It has had to be made
three times； and when Mr。 Stevenson came； it was a track like
what you see beyond。'
'This must be put right；' said the Chief Justice。
SUNDAY。
The truth is； I broke down yesterday almost as soon as I
began； and have been surreptitiously finishing the entry to…
day。 For all that I was much better； ate all the time； and
had no fever。 The day was otherwise uneventful。 I am
reminded； I had another visitor on Friday； and Fanny and
Lloyd； as they returned from a forest raid； met in our
desert； untrodden road； first Father Didier； Keeper of the
conscience of Mataafa； the rising star； and next the Chief
justice； sole stay of Laupepa； the present and unsteady star；
and remember； a few days before we were close to the sick bed
and entertained by the amateur physician of Tamasese； the
late and sunken star。 'That is the fun of this place；'
observed Lloyd； 'everybody you meet is so important。'
Everybody is also so gloomy。 It will come to war again； is
the opinion of all the well informed … and before that to
many bankruptcies； and after that； as usual； to famine。
Here； under the microscope； we can see history at work。
WEDNESDAY。
I have been very neglectful。 A return to work； perhaps
premature； but necessary； has used up all my possible
energies and made me acquainted with the living headache。 I
just jot down some of the past notabilia。 Yesterday B。； a
carpenter； and K。； my （unsuccessful） white man； were absent
all morning from their work； I was working myself； where I
hear every sound with morbid certainty； and I can testify
that not a hammer fell。 Upon inquiry I found they had passed
the morning making ice with our ice machine and taking the
horizon with a spirit level！ I had no sooner heard this than
… a violent headache set in； I am a real employer of labour
now； and have much of the ship captain when aroused； and if I
had a headache； I believe both these gentlemen had aching
hearts。 I promise you； the late … was to the front； and K。；
who was the most guilty； yet （in a sense） the least
blameable； having the brains and character of a canary…bird；
fared none the better for B。's repartees。 I hear them hard
at work this morning； so the menace may be blessed。 It was
just after my dinner； just before theirs； that I administered
my redoubtable tongue … it is really redoubtable … to these
skulkers （Paul used to triumph over Mr。 J。 for weeks。 'I am
very sorry for you；' he would say； 'you're going to have a
talk with Mr。 Stevenson when he comes home： you don't know
what that is！'） In fact； none of them do； till they get it。
I have known K。； for instance； for months； he has never heard
me complain； or take notice； unless it were to praise； I have
used him always as my guest； and there seems to be something
in my appearance which suggests endless； ovine long…
suffering！ We sat in the upper verandah all evening； and
discussed the price of iron roofing； and the state of the
draught…horses； with Innes； a new man we have taken； and who
seems to promise well。
One thing embarrasses me。 No one ever seems to understand my
attitude about that book； the stuff sent was never meant for
other than a first state； I never meant it to appear as a
book。 Knowing well that I have never had one hour of
inspiration since it was begun； and have only beaten out my
metal by brute force and patient repetition； I hoped some day
to get a 'spate of style' and burnish it … fine mixed
metaphor。 I am now so sick that I intend； when the Letters
are done and some more written that will be wanted； simply to
make a book of it by the pruning…knife。
I cannot fight longer； I am sensible of having done worse
than I hoped； worse than I feared； all I can do now is to do
the best I can for the future； and clear the book； like a
piece of bush； with axe and cutlass。 Even to produce the MS。
of this will occupy me； at the most favourable opinion； till
the middle of next year； really five years were wanting； when
I could have made a book； but I have a family； and … perhaps
I could not make the book after all。
CHAPTER VIII
APRIL 29TH； '91。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … I begin again。 I was awake this morning
about half…past four。 It was still night； but I made my
fire； which is always a delightful employment； and read
Lockhart's 'Scott' until the day began to peep。 It was a
beautiful and sober dawn； a dove…coloured dawn； insensibly
brightening to gold。 I was looking at it some while over the
down…hill profile of our eastern road； when I chanced to
glance northward； and saw with extraordinary pleasure the sea
lying outspread。 It seemed as smooth as glass； and yet I
knew the surf was roaring all along the reef； and indeed； if
I had listened； I could have heard it … and saw the white
sweep of it outside Matautu。
I am out of condition still； and can do nothing； and toil to
be at my pen； and see some ink behind me。 I have taken up
again THE HIGH WOODS OF ULUFANUA。 I still think the fable
too fantastic and far…fetched。 But； on a re…reading； fell in
love with my first chapter； and for good or evil I must
finish it。 It is really good； well fed with facts； true to
the manners； and （