glass, all the little, queer, many coloured villas standing shuttered
and empty; in front of ours, across the lagoon, two long wooden bridges;
one for the rail, one for the road, sounding with intermittent traffic.
It is highly pleasant, and a delightful change from Saranac. My health
is much better for the change; I am sure I walked about four miles
yesterday, one time with another--well, say three and a half; and the
day before, I was out for four hours in the cat-boat, and was as stiff
as a board in consequence. More letters call.--Yours ever,

R. L. S.

TO CHARLES BAXTER

_Union House, Manasquan, N. J., but address to
Scribner's, 11th May 1888._

_MY DEAR CHARLES_,--I have found a yacht, and we are going the full
pitch for seven months. If I cannot get my health back (more or less),
'tis madness; but, of course, there is the hope, and I will play big....
If this business fails to set me up, well, L2000 is gone, and I know I
can't get better. We sail from San Francisco, June 15th, for the South
Seas in the yacht _Casco_.--With a million thanks for all your dear
friendliness, ever yours affectionately,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

TO LADY TAYLOR

[_Manasquan, May 1888._]

MY DEAR LADY TAYLOR,--I have to announce our great news. On June 15th we
sail from San Francisco in the schooner yacht _Casco_, for a seven
months' cruise in the South Seas. You can conceive what a state of
excitement we are in; Lloyd perhaps first; but this is an old dream of
mine which actually seems to be coming true, and I am sun-struck. It
seems indeed too good to be true; and that we have not deserved so much
good fortune. From Skerryvore to the Galapagos is a far cry! And from
poking in a sick-room all winter to the deck of one's own ship, is
indeed a heavenly change.

All these seven months I doubt if we can expect more than three mails at
the best of it: and I do hope we may hear something of your news by
each. I have no very clear views as to where the three addresses ought
to be, but if you hear no later news, Charles Scribner's Sons will
always have the run of our intended movements. And an early letter there
would probably catch us at the Sandwich Islands. Tahiti will probably be
the second point: and (as I roughly guess) Quito the third. But the
whole future is invested with heavenly clouds.

I trust you are all well and content, and have good news of the
Shelleys, to whom I wish you would