much. But
there--it's done somehow, and time presses hard on my heels. The book,
with my best expedition, may come just too late to be of use. In which
case I shall have made a handsome present of some months of my life for
nothing and to nobody. Well, through Her the most ancient heavens are
fresh and strong.[41]

_30th._--After I had written you, I re-read my hurricane, which is very
poor; the life of the journalist is hard, another couple of writings and
I could make a good thing, I believe, and it must go as it is! But, of
course, this book is not written for honour and glory, and the few who
will read it may not know the difference. Very little time. I go down
with the mail shortly, dine at the Chinese restaurant, and go to the
club to dance with islandresses. Think of my going out once a week to
dance.

Politics are on the full job again, and we don't know what is to come
next. I think the whole treaty _raj_ seems quite played out! They have
taken to bribing the _faipule_ men (parliament men) to stay in Mulinuu,
we hear; but I have not yet sifted the rumour. I must say I shall be
scarce surprised if it prove true; these rumours have the knack of being
right.--Our weather this last month has been tremendously hot, not by
the thermometer, which sticks at 86 deg., but to the sensation: no rain, no
wind, and this the storm month. It looks ominous, and is certainly
disagreeable.

No time to finish.--Yours ever,

R. L. S.

TO E. L. BURLINGAME

The first sentences of the following refer to _A Footnote to
History_, Chapter x. of which, relating to the hurricane of 1889, was
first published in the Scots Observer, edited by Mr. Henley.

[_Vailima, March 1892._]

MY DEAR BURLINGAME,--Herewith Chapters IX. and X., and I am left face to
face with the horrors and dilemmas of the present regimen: pray for
those that go down to the sea in ships. I have promised Henley shall
have a chance to publish the hurricane chapter if he like, so please let
the slips be sent _quam primum_ to C. Baxter, W.S., 11 S. Charlotte
Street, Edinburgh. I got on mighty quick with that chapter--about five
days of the toughest kind of work. God forbid I should ever have such
another pirn to wind! When I invent a language, there shall be a direct
and an indirect pronoun differently declined--then writing would be some
fun.

DIRECT INDIRECT

He Tu
Him Tum
His