MYDEARCOLVIN，-Ihavetothankyouthistimeforaverygoodletter，andwillannounceforthefuture，thoughI
　　cannotnowbegintoputinpractice，goodintentionsforourcorrespondence。Iwilltrytoreturntotheoldsystemandwritefromtimetotimeduringthemonth；buttrulyyoudidnotmuchencouragemetocontinue！However，thatisallby-
　　past。Idonotknowthatthereismuchinyourletterthatcallsforanswer。YourquestionsaboutST。IVESwerepracticallyansweredinmylast；sowereyourwailsabouttheedition，AMATEUREMIGRANT，etc。BytheendoftheyearST。
　　I。willbepracticallyfinished，whateveritbeworth，andthatIknownot。WhenshallIreceiveproofsoftheMAGNUM
　　OPUS？orshallIreceivethematall？
　　ThereturnoftheAmanuensisfeeblylightensmyheart。YoucanseetheheavyweatherIwasmakingofitwithmyunaidedpen。ThelastmonthhasbeenparticularlycheerylargelyowingtothepresenceofourgoodfriendstheCURACOAS。Sheisreallyamodelship，charmingofficersandcharmingseamen。Theygaveaballlastmonth，whichwasveryracketyandjoyousandnaval……
　　Onthefollowingday，aboutoneo’clock，threehorsemenmighthavebeenobservedapproachingVailima，whograduallyresolvedthemselvesintotwopettyofficersandanativeguide。Drawinghimselfupandsaluting，thespokesmanacorporalofMarinesaddressedmethus。’MeandmyshipmatesinwitesMr。andMrs。Stevens，Mrs。Strong，Mr。Austin，andMr。Balfourtoaballtobegivento-nightintheself-same’all。’Itwasofcourseimpossibletorefuse，thoughI
　　contentedmyselfwithputtinginaverybriefappearance。
　　Oneglancewassufficient；theballwentofflikearocketfromthestart。IhadonlytimetowatchBellecareeringaroundwithagallantbluejacketofexactlyherownheight-
　　thestandardoftheBritishnavy-anexcellentdancerandconspicuouslyfullofsmall-talk-andtoheararemarkfromabeach-comber，’It’sanicesightthissomeway，toseetheofficersdancinglikethiswiththemen，butItellyou，sir，thesearethementhat’llfighttogether！’
　　Itellyou，Colvin，theacquaintanceofthemen-andboys-
　　makesmefeelpatriotic。EelesinparticularisamanwhomI
　　respect。Iamhalfinamindtogivehimaletterofintroductiontoyouwhenhegoeshome。Incaseyoufeelinclinedtomakealittleofhim，givehimadinner，askHenryJamestocometomeethim，etc-youmightletmeknow。Idon’tknowthathewouldshowhisbest，butheisaremarkablyfinefellow，ineverydepartmentoflife。
　　Wehaveothervisitorsinport。ACountFesteticsdeSolna，anAustrianofficer，averypleasant，simple，boyishcreature，withhisyoungwife，daughterofanAmericanmillionaire；heisafriendofourownCaptainWurmbrand，anditisagreatpityWurmbrandisaway。
　　GladyousawandlikedLysaght。Hehasleftinourhouseamostcheerfulandpleasingmemory，asagood，pleasant，briskfellowwithgoodhealthandbrains，andwhoenjoyshimselfandmakesotherpeoplehappy。Iamgladhegaveyouagoodreportofoursurroundingsandwayoflife；butIknewhewould，forIbelievehehadaglorioustime-andgaveone。
　　IamonfairtermswiththetwoTreatyofficials，thoughallsuchintimaciesareprecarious；withtheconsuls，Ineednotsay，mypositionisdeplorable。ThePresidentHerrEmilSchmidtisaratherdreamyman，whomIlike。Lloyd，GrahamandIgotobreakfastwithhimto-morrow；thenextdaythewholepartyofuslunchontheCURACOAandgointheeveningtoaBIERABENDatDr。Funk’s。Wearegettingupapaper-
　　chaseforthefollowingweekwithsomeoftheyoungGermanclerks，andhaveinviewasortofchild’spartyforgrown-uppersonswithkissinggames，etc。，hereatVailima。Suchisthegaysceneinwhichwemove。NowIhavedonesomething，thoughnotasmuchasIwanted，togiveyouanideaofhowwearegettingon，andIamkeenlyconsciousthatthereareotherletterstodobeforethemailgoes-Yoursever，R。L。STEVENSON。
　　MYDEARCOLVIN，-Thisistoinformyou，sir，thatonSundaylastandthisisTuesdayIattainedmyidealhere，andwehadapaperchaseinVailelePlantation，about15miles，I
　　takeit，fromus；anditwasallthatcouldbewished。Itisreallybetterfunthanfollowingthehounds，sinceyouhavetobeyourownhound，andapreciousbadhoundIwas，followingeveryfalsescentonthewholecoursetothebitterend；butIcamein3rdatthelastonmylittleJack，whostucktoitgallantly，andawokethepraisesofsomediscriminatingpersons。572。5=14。5miles；yes，thatisthecount。Wehadquitetheoldsensationsofexhilaration，discovery，anappealtoasavageinstinct；andIfeltmyselfabout17again，apleasantexperience。
　　However，itwasontheSabbathDay，andIamnowapariahamongtheEnglish，asifIneededanyincrementofunpopularity。Imustnotgoagain；itgivessomuchunnecessarytribulationtopoorpeople，and，sure，wedon’twanttomaketribulation。Ihavebeenforbiddentowork，andhavebeeninsteaddoingmytwoorthreehoursintheplantationeverymorning。Ionlywishsomebodywouldpayme10poundsadayfortakingcareofcacao，andIcouldleaveliteraturetoothers。Certainly，ifIhaveplentyofexercise，andnowork，Ifeelmuchbetter；butthereisBilesthebutcher！himwehavealwayswithus。
　　Idonotmuchlikenovels，Ibegintothink，butIamenjoyingexceedinglyOrme’sHISTORYOFHINDOSTAN，alovelybookinitsway，inlargequarto，withaquantityofmaps，andwritteninaverylivelyandsolideighteenthcenturyway，neverpicturesqueexceptbyaccidentandfromakindofconviction，andafinesenseoforder。NohistorianIhaveeverreadissominute；yethenevergivesyouawordaboutthepeople；hisinterestisentirelylimitedintheconcatenationofevents，intowhichhegoeswithalucid，almostsuperhuman，andwhollyghostlygusto。’Bytheghostofamathematician’thebookmightbeannounced。Averybrave，honestbook。
　　Yourlettertohand。
　　Factis，Idon’tlikethepicter。O，it’sagoodpicture，butifyouASKme，youknow，Ibelieve，stoutlybelieve，thatmankind，includingyou，aregoingmad，Iamnotinthemidstwiththeotherfrenzydancers，soIdon’tcatchitwholly；
　　andwhenyoushowmeathing-andaskme，don’tyouknow-
　　Well，well！GladtogetsogoodanaccountoftheAMATEUR
　　EMIGRANT。Talkingofwhich，IamstrongformakingavolumeoutofselectionsfromtheSouthSealetters；IreadoveragaintheKingofApemama，anditisgoodinspiteofyourteeth，andarealcuriosity，athingthatcanneverbeseenagain，andthegroupisannexedandTembinokadead。I
　　wonder，couldn’tyousendouttometheFIRSTfiveButaritarilettersandtheLowArchipelagoonesbothofwhichIhavelostormislaidandIcanchopoutaperfectlyfairvolumeofwhatIwishtobepreserved。Itcankeepforthelastoftheseries。
　　TRAVELSANDEXCURSIONS，vol。II。ShoulditnotincludeapaperonS。F。fromtheMAG。OFART？TheA。E。，theNewPacificcapital，theOldditto。SILVER。SQUAT。ThiswouldgiveallmyworksontheStates；andthoughitain’tverygood，it’snotsoverybad。TRAVELSANDEXCURSIONS，vol。
　　III。，tobetheseresuscitatedletters-MISCELLANIES，vol。
　　II-COMMEVOUSVOUDREZ，CHERMONSIEUR！
　　MONDAY，Aug。13TH
　　Ihaveasuddencalltogoupthecoastandmusthurryupwithmyinformation。Therehassuddenlycometoournavalcommanderstheneedofaction，they’reawayupthecoastbombardingtheAtuarebels。AllmorningonSaturdaythesoundofthebombardmentofLotuanu’ukeptusuneasy。To-dayagainthebiggunshavebeensoundingfurtheralongthecoast。
　　To-morrowmorningearlyIamoffupthecoastmyself。
　　Thereforeyoumustallowmetobreakoffherewithoutfurtherceremony-Yoursever，ROBERTLOUISSTEVENSON。
　　MYDEARCOLVIN，-Thismustbeaverymeaslyletter。IhavebeentryinghardtogetalongwithST。IVES。IshouldnowlayitasideforayearandIdaresayIshouldmakesomethingofitafterall。Insteadofthat，Ihavetokickagainstthepricks，andbreakmyself，andspoilthebook，iftherewereanythingtospoil，whichIamfarfromsaying。I’massickofthethingaseveranyonecanbe；it’sarudderlesshulk；
　　it’sapagoda，andyoucanjustfeel-orIcanfeel-thatitmighthavebeenapleasantstory，ifithadbeenonlyblessedatbaptism。
　　Ourpoliticshavegoneonfairlywell，buttheresultisstilldoubtful。
　　SEPT。10TH。
　　IknowIhavesomethingelsetosaytoyou，butunfortunatelyIawokethismorningwithcollywobbles，andhadtotakeasmalldoseoflaudanumwiththeusualconsequencesofdrythroat，intoxicatedlegs，partialmadnessandtotalimbecility；andforthelifeofmeIcannotrememberwhatitis。Ihavelikewisemislaidyourletteramongsttheaccumulationsonmytable，notthattherewasanythinginit。
　　AltogetherIaminapoorstate。IforgottotellBaxterthatthedummyhadturnedupandisafine，personable-
　　lookingvolumeandverygoodreading。Pleasecommunicatethistohim。
　　IhavejustrememberedanincidentthatIreallymustnotletpass。Youhaveheardagreatdealmorethanyouwantedaboutourpoliticalprisoners。Well，oneday，aboutafortnightago，thelastofthemwassetfree-OldPoe，whomIthinkI
　　musthavementionedtoyou，thefather-in-lawofmycook，wasonethatIhadhadagreatdealoftroublewith。Ihadtakenthedoctortoseehim，gothimoutonsickleave，andwhenhewasputbackagaingavebailforhim。Imustnotforgetthatmywiferanawaywithhimoutoftheprisononthedoctor’sordersandwiththecomplicityofourfriendthegaoler，whoreallyandtrulygotthesackfortheexploit。Assoonashewasfinallyliberated，Poecalledameetingofhisfellow-
　　prisoners。AllSundaytheyweredebatingwhattheyweretodo，andonMondaymorningIgotanobscurehintfromTalolothatImustexpectvisitorsduringthedaywhowerecomingtoconsultme。TheseconsultationsIamnowverywellusedto，andseeingfirst，thatIgenerallydon’tknowwhattoadvise，andsecondthattheysometimesdon’ttakemyadvice-thoughinsomenotablecasestheyhavetakenit，generallytomyownwonderwithprettygoodresults-Iamnotveryfondofthesecalls。Theyministertoasenseofdignity，butnotpeaceofmind，andconsumeinterminabletimealwaysinthemorningtoo，whenIcan’taffordit。However，thiswastobeanewsortofconsultation。UpcamePoeandsomeeightotherchiefs，squattedinabigcirclearoundtheolddining-roomfloor，nowthesmoking-room。Andthefamily，beingrepresentedbyLloyd，Graham，Belle，Austinandmyself，proceededtoexchangethenecessarycourtesies。Thentheirtalkingmanbegan。Hesaidthattheyhadbeeninprison，thatIhadalwaystakenaninterestinthem，thattheyhadnowbeensetatlibertywithoutcondition，whereassomeoftheotherchiefswhohadbeenliberatedbeforethemwerestillunderbondtoworkupontheroads，andthatthishadsetthemconsideringwhattheymightdototestifytheirgratitude。Theyhadthereforeagreedtoworkuponmyroadasafreegift。Theywentontoexplainthatitwasonlytobeonmyroad，onthebranchthatjoinsmyhousewiththepublicway。
　　NowIwasverymuchgratifiedatthiscompliment，althoughtooneusedtonativesitseemedratherahollowone。ItmeantonlythatIshouldhavetolayoutagooddealofmoneyontoolsandfoodandtogivewagesundertheguiseofpresentstosomeworkmenwhoweremostofthemoldandinill-health。ConceivehowmuchIwassurprisedandtouchedwhenIheardthewholeschemeexplainedtome。Theyweretoreturntotheirprovinces，andcollecttheirfamilies；someoftheyoungmenweretoliveinApiawithaboat，andplyupanddownthecoasttoA’anaandA’tuaourownTuamasagabeingquitedrainedofresourcesinordertosupplytheworkingsquadwithfood。Toolstheydidaskfor，butitwasespeciallymentionedthatIwastomakenopresents。Inshort，thewholeofthislittle’presentation’tomehadbeenplannedwithagooddealmoreconsiderationthangoesusuallywithanativecampaign。
　　Isatontheoppositesideofthecircletothetalkingman。
　　Hisfacewasquitecalmandhigh-bredashewentthroughtheusualSamoanexpressionsofpolitenessandcompliment，butwhenhecameontotheobjectoftheirvisit，ontheirloveandgratitudetoTusitala，howhisnamewasalwaysintheirprayers，andhisgoodnesstothemwhentheyhadnootherfriend，wastheirmostcherishedmemory，hewarmeduptoreal，burning，genuinefeeling。IhadneverseentheSamoanmaskofreservelaidasidebefore，andittouchedmemorethananythingelse。A。M。
　　Thismorningaseverwas，brightandearlyupcamethewholegangofthem，alotofsturdy，common-lookingladstheyseemedtobeforthemostpart，andfelltoonmynewroad。
　　OldPoewasinthehighestofgoodspirits，andlookedbetterinhealththanhehasdoneanytimeintwoyears，beingpositivelyrejuvenatedbythesuccessofhisscheme。Hejestedasheservedoutthenewtools，andIamsorrytosaydamnedtheGovernmentuphillanddowndale，probablywithaviewtoshowoffhispositionasafriendofthefamilybeforehiswork-boys。Now，whetherornottheirimpulsewilllastthemthroughtheroaddoesnotmattertomeonehair。
　　Itisthefactthattheyhaveattemptedit，thattheyhavevolunteeredandarenowreallytryingtoexecuteathingthatwasneverbeforeheardofinSamoa。Thinkofit！Itisroad-making-themostfruitfulcauseaftertaxesofallrebellionsinSamoa，athingtowhichtheycouldnotbewiledwithmoneynordrivenbypunishment。ItdoesgivemeasenseofhavingdonesomethinginSamoaafterall。
　　Nowthere’sonelongstoryforyouabout’myblacks。’-Yoursever，ROBERT