Itstopped:itwaslongbeforewehadtimetoremarkthattheaxlewastwistedliketheletterL。Ourfirstcarewasthehorses。Theretheystood，blackwithsweat，thesweatrainingfromthem-literallyraining-theirheadsdown，theirfeetapart-andbloodrunningthickfromthenostrilsofthemare。WegotoutFanny’sunder-clothes-couldn’tfindanythingelsebutourblankets-torubthemdown，andinabouthalfanhourwehadtheblessedsatisfactiontoseeoneaftertheothertakeabiteortwoofgrass。Butitwasatoucher；alittlemoreandthesesteedswouldhavebeenfoundered。
　　MONDAY，31ST？NOVEMBER。
　　Nearaweekelapsed，andnojournal。OnMondayafternoon，MoorsrodeupandIrodedownwithhim，dined，andwentoverintheeveningtotheAmericanConsulate；present，Consul-
　　GeneralSewall，Lieut。ParkerandMrs。Parker，LafargetheAmericandecorator，AdamsanAmericanhistorian；wetalkedlate，anditwasarrangedIwastowriteupforFanny，andweshouldbothdineonthemorrow。
　　OntheFriday，IwasallforenoonintheMissionHouse，lunchedattheGermanConsulate，wentonboardtheSPERBER
　　Germanwarshipintheafternoon，calledonmylawyeronmywayouttoAmericanConsulate，andtalkedtilldinnertimewithAdams，whomIamsupplyingwithintroductionsandinformationforTahitiandtheMarquesas。Fannyarrivedawreck，andhadtoliedown。Themoonrose，onedaypastfull，andwedinedintheverandah，agooddinneronthewhole；talkwithLafargeaboutartandthelovelydreamsofartstudents。RemarkbyAdams，whichtookmebrisklyhometotheMonument-’IonlylikedoneYOUNGwoman-andthatwasMrs。Procter。’HenryJameswouldlikethat。Backbymoonlightintheconsulateboat-Fannybeingtootiredtowalk-toMoors’s。Saturday，IleftFannytorest，andwasoffearlytotheMission，wherethepoliticsarethrillingjustnow。Thenativepastorstoeveryone’ssurprisehavemovedofthemselvesinthematterofthenativedances，desiringtherestrictionstoberemoved，orrathertobemadedependentonthecharacterofthedance。Clarke，whohadfearedcensureandallkindsoftrouble，is，ofcourse，rejoicinggreatly。Acharacteristicfeature:theargumentofthepastorswashandedinintheformofafictitiousnarrativeofthevoyageofoneMr。Pye，anEnglishtraveller，andhisconversationwithachief；therearetouchesofsatireinthiseducationalromance。Mr。Pye，forinstance，admitsthatheknowsnothingabouttheBible。AttheMissionIwassoughtoutbyHenryinadevilofanagitation；hehasbeenmadethevictimofaforgery-acrimehithertounknowninSamoa。IhadtogotoFolau，thechiefjudgehere，inthematter。Folauhadneverheardoftheoffence，andbeggedtoknowwhatwasthepunishment；theremaybelivelytimesinforgeryahead。ItseemsthesortofcrimetotickleaPolynesian。Afterlunch-youcanseewhatabusythreedaysIamdescribing-wesetofftoridehome。MyJackwasfullofthedevilofcornandtoomuchgrass，andnowork。IhadtorideaheadandleaveFannybehind。HeisamostgallantlittlerascalismyJack，andtakesthewholewayashardastheriderpleases。Singleincident:half-wayup，IfindmyboysupontheroadandstopandtalkwithHenryinhischaracterofganger，aslongasJackwillsufferme。Fannydronesinafter；wemakeashowofeating-orIdo-shegoestobedabouthalf-pastsix！Iwritesomeverses，readIrving’sWASHINGTON，andfollowabouthalf-pasteight。O，onethingmoreIdid，inapropheticspirit。IhadmadesureFannywasnotfittobeleftalone，andwrotebeforeturninginalettertoChalmers，tellinghimIcouldnotmeethiminAucklandatthistime。Byelevenatnight，Fannygotmewakened-shehadtriedtwiceinvain-andIfoundherverybad。Thencetillthree，welabouredwithmustardpoultices，laudanum，sodaandginger-Heavens！wasn’titcold；thelandbreezewasascoldasariver；themoonwasgloriousinthepaddock，andthegreatboughsandtheblackshadowsofourtreeswereinconceivable。Butitwasapoortime。
　　SundaymorningfoundFanny，ofcourse，acompletewreck，andmyselfnotverybrilliant。PaulhadtogotoVaileleRE
　　cocoa-nuts；itwasdoubtfulifhecouldbebackbydinner；
　　nevermind，saidI，I’lltakedinnerwhenyoureturn。OffsetPaul。Ididanhour’swork，andthentackledthehousework。Ididitbeautiful:thehousewasapicture，itresplendedofpropriety。PresentlyMr。Moors’Andrewrodeup；IheardthedoctorwasattheForestHouseandsentanotetohim；andwhenhecame，Iheardmywifetellinghimshehadbeeninbedallday，andthatwaswhythehousewassodirty！Wasitgrateful？Wasitpolitic？WasitTRUE？-
　　Enough！Intheinterval，upmarchedlittleL。S。，oneofmyneighbours，allinhisSundaywhitelinens；madeafinesalute，anddemandedthekeyofthekitcheninGermanandEnglish。Andhecookeddinnerforus，likealittleman，andhaditonthetableandthecoffeereadybythehour。Paulhadarrangedmethissurprise。Sometimelater，Paulreturnedhimselfwithafreshsurpriseonhand；hewasalmostsober；nothingbutahazyeyedistinguishedhimfromPauloftheweekdays:VIVAT！
　　OntheeveningIcannotdwell。Allthehorsesgotoutofthepaddock，wentacross，andsmashedmyneighbour’sgardenintoabighole。Howlittletheamateurconceivesafarmer’stroubles。Iwentoutatoncewithalantern，stakedupagapinthehedge，waskickedatbyachestnutmare，whostraightwaytooktothebush；andcameback。Alittleafter，theyhadfoundanothergap，andthecrowdwereallabroadagain。Whathashappenedtoourowngardennobodyyetknows。
　　Fannyhadafairnight，andwearebothtolerablethismorning，onlytheyokeofcorrespondenceliesonmeheavy。I
　　begyouwillletthisgoontomymother。Igotsuchagoodstartinyourletter，thatIkeptonatit，andIhaveneithertimenorenergyformore。
　　Yoursever，R。L。S。
　　SOMETHINGNEW。
　　IwascalledfrommylettersbythevoiceofMr-，whohadjustcomeupwithaloadofwood，roaring，’Henry！Henry！
　　Bringsixboys！’Isawtherewassomethingwrong，andranout。Thecart，halfunloaded，hadupsetwiththemareintheshafts；shewasallcrampedtogetherandalltangledupinharnessandcargo，theoffshaftpushingherover，Mr-
　　holdingherupbymainstrength，andrightalong-sideofher-whereshemustfallifshewentdown-adeadlystickofatreelikealance。Icouldnotbutadmirethewisdomandfaithofthisgreatbrute；Ineversawtheriding-horsethatwouldnothavelostitslifeinsuchasituation；butthecart-elephantpatientlywaitedandwassaved。Itwasastirringthreeminutes，Icantellyou。
　　IforgotintalkingofSaturdaytotellofoneincidentwhichwillparticularlyinterestmymother。ImetDr。D。fromSavaii，andhadanage-longtalkaboutEdinburghfolk；itwasverypleasant。HehasbeenstudyinginEdinburgh，alongwithhisson；aprettyrelation。Hetoldmeheknewnobodybutcollegepeople:’Iwasaltogetherastudent，’hesaidwithglee。Heseemsfullofcheerfulnessandthick-setenergy。I
　　feelasifIcouldputhiminanovelwitheffect；andtentoone，ifIknowmoreofhim，theimagewillbeonlyblurred。
　　TUESDAY，DEC。2ND。
　　Ishouldhavetoldyouyesterdaythatallmyboysweregotupfortheirworkinmoustachesandside-whiskersofsomesortofblacking-Isupposewood-ash。Itwasasightofjoytoseethemreturnatnight，axeonshoulder，feigningtomarchlikesoldiers，achoraguswithaloudvoicesingingout，’March-step！March-step！’inimperfectrecollectionofsomedrill。
　　Fannyseemsmuchrevived。
　　MYDEARCOLVIN，-IdonotsaymyJackisanythingextraordinary；heisonlyanislandhorse；andtheprofanemightcallhimaPunch；andhisfaceislikeadonkey’s；andnativeshaveriddenhim，andhehasnomouthinconsequence，andoccasionallyshies。Buthismeritsareequallysurprising；andIdon’tthinkIshouldeverhaveknownJack’smeritsifIhadnotbeenridingupoflateonmoonlessnights。Jackisabitofadandy；helovestomisbehaveinagallantmanner，aboveallonApiaStreet，andwhenIstoptospeaktopeople，theysayDr。StuebeltheGermanconsulsaidaboutthreedaysago，’Owhatawildhorse！itcannotbesafetoridehim。’SucharemarkisJack’sreward，andrepresentshisidealoffame。NowwhenIstartoutofApiaonadarknight，youshouldseemychangedhorse；atafaststeadywalk，withhisheaddown，andsometimeshisnosetotheground-whenhewantstodothat，heasksforhisheadwithalittleeloquentpolitemovementindescribable-heclimbsthelongascentandthreadsthedarkestofthewood。
　　ThefirstnightIcameitwasstarry；anditwassingulartoseethestarlightdripdownintothecryptofthewood，andshineintheopenendoftheroad，asbrightasmoonlightathome；butthecryptitselfwasproof，blacknesslivedinit。
　　Thenextnightitwasraining。WeleftthelightsofApiaandpassedintolimbo。Jackfindsawayforhimself，buthedoesnotcalculateformyheightabovethesaddle；andIamdirectedforward，allbracedupforacrouchandholdingmyswitchuprightinfrontofme。Itiscuriouslyinteresting。
　　Intheforest，thedeadwoodisphosphorescent；somenightsthewholegroundisstrewnwithit，sothatitseemslikeagratingoverapalehell；doubtlessthisisoneofthethingsthatfeedthenightfearsofthenatives；andIamfreetoconfessthatinanightoftracklessdarknesswhereallelseisvoid，thesepallidIGNESSUPPOSITIhaveafantasticappearance，ratherbogeyeven。Onenight，whenitwasverydark，amanhadputoutalittlelanternbythewaysidetoshowtheentrancetohisground。Isawthelight，asI
　　thought，farahead，andsupposeditwasapedestriancomingtomeetme；Iwasquitetakenbysurprisewhenitstruckinmyfaceandpassedbehindme。Jacksawit，andhewasappalled；doyouthinkhethoughtofshying？No，sir，notinthedark；inthedarkJackknowsheisonduty；andhewentpastthatlanternsteadyandswift；only，ashewent，hegroanedandshuddered。Forabout2500ofJack’sstepsweonlypassonehouse-thatwherethelanternwas；andabout1500oftheseareinthedarknessofthepit。Butnowthemoonisontapagain，andtheroadslighted。
　　IhavebeenexploringuptheVaituliga；seeyourmap。Itcomesdownawonderfulfineglen；atleast200feetofcliffsoneitherhand，windinglikeacorkscrew，greatforesttreesfillingit。Atthetopthereoughttobeafinedoublefall；
　　butthestreamevadesitbyafaultandpassesunderground。
　　Abovethefallitrunsatthisseasonfullandverygailyinashallowvalley，somehundredyardsbeforetheheadoftheglen。Itscourseisseenfullofgrasses，likeafloodedmeadow；thatisthesink！beyondthegraveofthegrasses，thebedliesdry。Nearthisupperpartthereisagreatshowofruinouspig-walls；avillagemusthavestoodnearby。
　　TowalkfromourhousetoWreckHillwhenthepathisburiedinfallentreestakesoneabouthalfanhour，Ithink；toreturn，notmorethantwentyminutes；Idaresayfifteen。
　　HenceIshouldguessitwasthree-quartersofamile。Ihadmeanttojoinonmyexplorationspassingeastwardbythesink；but，Lord！howitrains。