第31章
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  Ihadtwoprieststoluncheonyesterday:theBishopandPereRemy。Theywereverypleasant,andquitecleantoo,whichhasbeenknownsometimesnottobe-evenwithbishops。

  Monseigneurisnotunimposing;withhiswhitebeardandhisvioletgirdlehelookssplendidlyepiscopal,andwhenourthreewaitingladscameuponeafteranotherandkneeledbeforehiminthebighall,andkissedhisring,itdidmegoodforapieceofpageantry。Remyisveryengaging;heisalittle,nervous,eagerman,likeagoverness,andbrimfuloflaughterandsmalljokes。Soisthebishopindeed,andourluncheonpartywentoffmerrily-farmoremerrilythanmanyaGermanspread,thoughwithsomuchlessliquor。Onetraitwasdelicious。WithacompleteignoranceoftheProtestantthatIwouldscarcehaveimagined,herelatedtousasnewslittlestoriesfromthegospels,andgotthenamesallwrong!Hiscommentsweredelicious,andtoourearsathoughtirreverent。’AH!ILCONNAISSAITSONMONDE,ALLEZ!’’ILETAITFIN,NOTRESEIGNEUR!’etc。

  FRIDAY。

  DownwithFannyandBelle,tolunchattheInternational。

  Heardthereaboutthehugefollyofthehour,alltheMulinuuammunitionhavingbeenyesterdaymarchedopenlytovaultsinMatafele;andthismorning,onacryofprotestfromthewhites,openlyandhumiliatinglydisinterredandmarchedbackagain。Peoplespokeofitwithakindofshrillnotethatdidnotquitesatisfyme。Theyseemednotquitewellatease。Luncheonover,werodeoutontheMalieroad。AllwasquietinVaiusu,andwhenwegottothesecondford,alas!

  therewasnopicket-whichwasjustwhatBellehadcometosketch。Onthroughquiteemptyroads;thehousesdeserted,neveraguntobeseen;andatlastadrumandapennywhistleplayinginVaiusu,andacricketmatchontheMALAE!

  WentuptoFaamuina’s;heisatrifleuneasy,thoughhegivesuskava。Icannotseewhatailshim,thenitappearsthathehasanengagementwiththeChiefJusticeathalf-pasttwotosellapieceofland。Isthisthereasonwhywarhasdisappeared?Werideback,stoppingtosketchhereandtherethefords,aflagoftruce,etc。IrideontoPublicHallCommitteeandpassanhourwithmycommitteesveryheavily。

  Tothehoteltodinner,thentotheball,andhomebyeleven,verytired。AttheballIheardsomenews,ofhowthechiefofLetonusaidthatIwasthesourceofallthistrouble,andshouldbepunished,andmyfamilyaswell。This,andtherudenessofthemanatthefordoftheGase-gase,looksbutill;IshouldhavesaidthatFaamuina,asheapproachedthefirstford,wasspokentobyagirl,andimmediatelysaidgoodbyeandplungedintothebush;thegirlhadtoldhimtherewasawarpartyoutfromMulinuu;andalittlefurtheron,aswestoppedtosketchaflagoftruce,thebeatingofdrumsandthesoundofabuglefromthatdirectionstartledus。Butwesawnothing,andIbelieveMulinuuisatleastatpresentincapableofanyactofoffence。Onegoodjob,thesethreatstomyhomeandfamilytakeawayallmychildishtemptationtogooutandfight。Ourforcemustbehere,toprotectourselves。Iseepanicrisingamongthewhites;I

  heartheshrillnoteofitintheirvoices,andtheytalkalreadyaboutarefugeonthewarships。Therearetwohere,bothGerman;andtheORLANDOisexpectedpresently。

  SUNDAY9THJULY。

  Well,thewarhasatlastbegun。Forfourorfivedays,Apiahasbeenfilledbythesepoorchildrenwiththeirfacesblacked,andtheredhandkerchiefabouttheirbrows,thatmakestheMalietoauniform,andtheboatshavebeencominginfromthewindward,someofthem50strong,withadrumandabugleonboard-thebuglealwaysill-played-andasortofjesterleapingandcaperingonthesparrednoseoftheboat,andthewholecrewutteringfromtimetotimeakindofmenacingululation。Fridaytheymarchedouttothebush;andyesterdaymorningweheardthatsomehadreturnedtotheirhousesforthenight,astheyfoundit’souncomfortable。’

  Afterdinneramessengercameuptomewithanote,thatthewoundedwerearrivingattheMissionHouse。Fanny,LloydandIsaddledandrodeoffwithalantern;itwasafinestarrynight,thoughprettycold。WeleftthelanternatTanuga-

  manono,andthendowninthestarlight。IfoundApia,andmyself,inastrangestateofflusteration;myownexcitementwasgloomyandImaysaytruculent;othersappearedimbecile;somesullen。Thebestplaceinthewholetownwasthehospital。Alongishframe-houseitwas,withabigtableinthemiddleforoperations,andtenSamoans,eachwithanaverageoffoursympathisers,stretchedalongthewalls。

  Clarkewasthere,steadyasadie;MissLarge,littlespectacledangel,showedherselfarealtrump;thenice,clean,Germanorderliesintheirwhiteuniformslookedandmeantbusiness。IhearafinestoryofMissLarge-acast-

  ironteetotaller-goingtothepublic-houseforabottleofbrandy。

  ThedoctorswerenottherewhenIarrived;butpresentlyitwasobservedthatoneofthemenwasgoingcold。HewasamagnificentSamoan,verydark,withanobleaquilinecountenance,likeanArab,Isuppose,andwassurroundedbysevenpeople,fondlinghislimbsashelay:hewasshotthroughbothlungs。AndanorderlywassenttothetownfortheGermannavaldoctors,whowerediningthere。MeantimeIfoundanerrandofmyown。BothClarkeandMissLargeexpressedawishtohavethepublichall,ofwhichIamchairman,andIsetoffdowntown,andwokepeopleoutoftheirbeds,andgotacommitteetogether,andwithagreatdealofdifficultyfromoneman,whomwefinallyoverwhelmed

  gotthepublichallforthem。Bartheoneman,thecommitteewassplendid,andagreedinamomenttosharetheexpenseiftheshareholdersobject。Backtothehospitalabout11。30;

  foundtheGermandoctorsthere。Twomenweregoingnow,onethatwasshotinthebowels-hewasdyingratherhard,inagloomystuporofpainandlaudanum,silent,withcontortedface。Thechief,shotthroughthelungs,waslyingononeside,awaitingthelastangel;hisfamilyheldhishandsandlegs;theywereallspeechless,onlyonewomansuddenlyclaspedhisknee,and’keened’fortheinsideoffiveseconds,andfellsilentagain。Wenthome,andtobedabouttwoA。M。Whatactuallypassedseemsundiscoverable;buttheMataafasweresurelydrivenbackoutofVaitele;thatisablowtothem,andtheresistancewasfargreaterthanhadbeenanticipated-whichisablowtotheLaupepas。Allseemstoindicatealongandbloodywar。

  Frank’shouseinMulinuuwaslikewisefilledwithwounded;

  manydeadbodieswerebroughtin;Ihearwithcertaintyoffive,wrappedinmats;andapastorgoesto-morrowtothefieldtobringothers。TheLaupepasbroughtinelevenheadstoMulinuu,andtothegreathorrorandconsternationofthenativemind,oneprovedtobeagirl,andwasidentifiedasthatofaTaupou-orMaidoftheVillage-fromSavaii。I

  hearthismorning,withgreatrelief,thatithasbeenreturnedtoMalie,wrappedinthemostcostlysilkhandkerchiefs,andwithanapologeticembassy。Thiscouldeasilyhappen。Thegirlwasofcourseattendingonherfatherwithammunition,andgotshot;herhairwascutshorttomakeherfather’swarhead-dress-evenasourownSina’sisatthismoment;andthedecollatorwasprobably,inhisredflurryoffight,whollyunconsciousofhersex。Iamsorryforhiminthefuture;hemustmakeuphismindtomanybitterjests-perhapstovengeance。Butwhatanendtoonechosenforherbeautyand,inthetimeofpeace,watchedoverbytrustycronesandhunchbacks!

  EVENING。

  CanIwriteornot?Iplayedlawntennisinthemorning,andafterlunchdownwithGrahamtoApia。Ulu,hethatwasshotinthelungs,stilllives;hethatwasshotinthebowelsisgonetohisfathers,poor,fiercechild!Iwasabletobeofsomeverysmallhelp,andinthewayofhelpingmyselftoinformation,toprovemyselfameregazeratmeteors。ButthereseemsnodoubttheMataafasforthetimearescattered;

  themostofourfriendsareinvolvedinthisdisaster,andMataafahimself-whomighthaveswepttheislandsafewmonthsago-forhimtofallsopoorly,doublesmyregret。

  TheysaytheTaupouhadagunandfired;probablyanexcusemanufacturedEXPOSTFACTO。Igodownto-morrowat12,tostaytheafternoon,andhelpMissLarge。Inthehospitalto-

  day,whenIfirstenteredit,therewerenoattendants;onlythewoundedandtheirfriends,allequallysleepingandtheirheadspoiseduponthewoodenpillows。Thereisaprettyenoughboythere,slightlywounded,whosefateistobeenvied:twogirls,andoneofthemostbeautiful,withbeamingeyes,tendhimandsleepuponhispillow。Intheothercorner,anotheryoungman,verypatientandbrave,lieswhollydeserted。Yetheseemstomefarthebetterofthetwo;butnotsopretty!Heavens,whatadifferencethatmakes;inournotverywellproportionedbodiesandourfinelyhideousfaces,the1-32nd-ratherthe1-64th-thiswayorthat!SixteenheadsinallatMulinuu。IamsostiffIcanscarcemovewithoutahowl。

  MONDAY,10TH。

  SomenewsthatMataafaisgonetoSavaiibywayofManono;

  thismaymeanagreatdealmorewarfaring,andnogreatissue。WhenSosimocameinthismorningwithmybreakfasthehadtoliftmeup。Itisnojoketoplaylawntennisaftercarryingyourrightarminaslingsomanyyears。

  Whatahard,unjustbusinessthisis!Onthe28th,ifMataafahadmoved,hecouldhavestillsweptMulinuu。Hewaited,andIfearheisnowonlythestickofarocket。

  WEDNESDAY,12TH。

  Nomorepoliticalnews;butmanyrumours。ThegovernmenttroopsareofftoManono;nowordofMataafa。O,thereisapassageinmymother’sletterwhichpuzzlesmeastoadate。

  IsitnextChristmasyouarecoming?ortheChristmasafter?

  Thisismostimportant,andmustbeunderstoodatonce。IfitisnextChristmas,IcouldnotgotoCeylon,forlackofgold,andyouwouldhavetoadoptoneofthefollowingalternatives:1st,eithercomestraightonhereandpassamonthwithus;’tistherainyseason,butwehaveoftenlovelyweather。Or2ndcometoHawaiiandIwillmeetyouthere。Hawaiiisonlyaweek’ssailfromS。Francisco,makingonlyaboutsixteendaysontheheavingocean;andthesteamersrunonceafortnight,sothatyoucouldturnround;

  andyoucouldthuspassadayortwointheStates-afortnighteven-andstillseeme。ButIhavesworntotakenofurtherexcursionstillIhavemoneysavedtopayforthem;andtogotoCeylonandbackwouldbetortureunlessI

  hadalot。Youmustanswerthisatonce,please;sothatI

  mayknowwhattodo。Wewoulddearlylikeyoutocomeonhere。I’lltellyouhowitcanbedone;IcancomeupandmeetyouatHawaii,andifyouhadatallgotoveryoursea-

  sickness,IcouldjustcomeonboardandwecouldreturntogethertoSamoa,andyoucouldhaveamonthofourlifehere,whichIbelieveyoucouldnothelpliking。Ourhorsesarethedevil,ofcourse,miserablescrews,andsomeofthemalittlevicious。Ihadadreadfulfright-thepassageinmymother’sletterisrecrossedandIseeitsaystheendof/94:somuchthebetter,then;butIwouldliketosubmittoyoumyalternativeplan。IcouldmeetyouatHawaii,andreconductyoutoHawaii,sothatwecouldhaveafullsixweekstogetherandIbelievealittleover,andyouwouldseethisplaceofmine,andhaveasniffofnativelife,nativefoods,nativehouses-andperhapsbeintimetoseetheGermanflagraised,whoknows?-andwecouldgenerallyyarnforallwewereworth。IshouldlikeyoutoseeVailima;andIshouldbecurioustoknowhowtheclimateaffectedyou。Itisquitehitormiss;itsuitsme,itsuitsGraham,itsuitsallourfamily;othersitdoesnotsuitatall。Itiseithergoldorpoison。Iriseatsix,therestatseven;lunchisat12;atfivewegotolawntennistilldinneratsix;andtoroostearly。

  AmanbroughtinaheadtoMulinuuingreatglory;theywashedtheblackpaintoff,andbehold!itwashisbrother。

  WhenIlastheardhewassittinginhishouse,withtheheaduponhislap,andweeping。Barbarouswarisanuglybusiness;butIbelievethecivilisedisfullyuglier;butLord!whatfun!

  IshouldsaywenowhavedefinitenewsthatthereareTHREE

  women’sheads;itwasdifficulttogetitoutofthenatives,whoareallashamed,andthewomenallinterrorofreprisals。Nothinghasbeendonetopunishordisgracethesehatefulinnovators。Itwasafalsereportthattheheadhadbeenreturned。

  THURSDAY,13TH,MataafadrivenawayfromSavaii。Icannotwriteaboutthis,anddonotknowwhatshouldbetheendofit。

  MONDAY,17TH。

  HaggardandAhrensaGermanclerktolunchyesterday。

  Thereisnorealcertainnewsyet:Imustsay,nomancouldSWEARtoanyresult;buttheskylookshorriblyblackforMataafaandsomanyofourfriendsalongwithhim。Thethinghasanabominable,abeastly,nightmareinterest。Butit’swonderfulgenerallyhowlittleonecaresaboutthewounded;

  hospitalsights,etc。;thingsthatusedtomurderme。Iwasfarmorestruckwiththeexcellentwayinwhichthingsweremanaged;asifithadbeenapeep-show;Iheldsomeofthethingsatanoperation,anddidnotcareadump。

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