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charterer； Mr。 Henderson； the very man I could have chosen。 The
truth is； I fear； this life is the only one that suits me； so long
as I cruise in the South Seas； I shall be well and happy … alas；
no； I do not mean that； and ABSIT OMEN！ … I mean that； so soon as I
cease from cruising； the nerves are strained； the decline
commences； and I steer slowly but surely back to bedward。 We left
Sydney； had a cruel rough passage to Auckland； for the JANET is the
worst roller I was ever aboard of。 I was confined to my cabin；
ports closed； self shied out of the berth； stomach （pampered till
the day I left on a diet of perpetual egg…nogg） revolted at ship's
food and ship eating； in a frowsy bunk； clinging with one hand to
the plate； with the other to the glass； and using the knife and
fork （except at intervals） with the eyelid。 No matter： I picked
up hand over hand。 After a day in Auckland； we set sail again；
were blown up in the main cabin with calcium fires； as we left the
bay。 Let no man say I am unscientific： when I ran； on the alert；
out of my stateroom； and found the main cabin incarnadined with the
glow of the last scene of a pantomime； I stopped dead： 'What is
this？' said I。 'This ship is on fire； I see that； but why a
pantomime？' And I stood and reasoned the point； until my head was
so muddled with the fumes that I could not find the companion。 A
few seconds later； the captain had to enter crawling on his belly；
and took days to recover （if he has recovered） from the fumes。 By
singular good fortune； we got the hose down in time and saved the
ship； but Lloyd lost most of his clothes and a great part of our
photographs was destroyed。 Fanny saw the native sailors tossing
overboard a blazing trunk； she stopped them in time； and behold； it
contained my manuscripts。 Thereafter we had three （or two） days
fine weather： then got into a gale of wind； with rain and a
vexatious sea。 As we drew into our anchorage in a bight of Savage
Island； a man ashore told me afterwards the sight of the JANET
NICOLL made him sick； and indeed it was rough play； though nothing
to the night before。 All through this gale I worked four to six
hours per diem； spearing the ink…bottle like a flying fish； and
holding my papers together as I might。 For； of all things； what I
was at was history … the Samoan business … and I had to turn from
one to another of these piles of manuscript notes； and from one
page to another in each； until I should have found employment for
the hands of Briareus。 All the same； this history is a godsend for
a voyage； I can put in time； getting events co…ordinated and the
narrative distributed； when my much…heaving numskull would be
incapable of finish or fine style。 At Savage we met the missionary
barque JOHN WILLIAMS。 I tell you it was a great day for Savage
Island： the path up the cliffs was crowded with gay islandresses
（I like that feminine plural） who wrapped me in their embraces； and
picked my pockets of all my tobacco； with a manner which a touch
would have made revolting； but as it was； was simply charming； like
the Golden Age。 One pretty； little； stalwart minx； with a red
flower behind her ear； had searched me with extraordinary zeal； and
when； soon after； I missed my matches； I accused her （she still
following us） of being the thief。 After some delay； and with a
subtle smile； she produced the box； gave me ONE MATCH； and put the
rest away again。 Too tired to add more。 … Your most affectionate；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO E。 L。 BURLINGAME
S。S。 'JANET NICOLL；' OFF PERU ISLAND； KINGSMILLS GROUP； JULY 13th；
'90。
MY DEAR BURLINGAME； … I am moved to write to you in the matter of
the end papers。 I am somewhat tempted to begin them again。 Follow
the reasons PRO and CON：…
1st。 I must say I feel as if something in the nature of the end
paper were a desirable finish to the number； and that the
substitutes of occasional essays by occasional contributors somehow
fail to fill the bill。 Should you differ with me on this point； no
more is to be said。 And what follows must be regarded as lost
words。
2nd。 I am rather taken with the idea of continuing the work。 For
instance； should you have no distaste for papers of the class
called RANDOM MEMORIES； I should enjoy continuing them （of course
at intervals）； and when they were done I have an idea they might
make a readable book。 On the other hand； I believe a greater
freedom of choice might be taken； the subjects more varied and more
briefly treated； in somewhat approaching the manner of Andrew Lang
in the SIGN OF THE SHIP； it being well understood that the broken
sticks method is one not very suitable （as Colonel Burke would say）
to my genius； and not very likely to be pushed far in my practice。
Upon this point I wish you to condense your massive brain。 In the
last lot I was promised； and I fondly expected to receive； a vast
amount of assistance from intelligent and genial correspondents。 I
assure you； I never had a scratch of a pen from any one above the
level of a village idiot； except once； when a lady sowed my head
full of grey hairs by announcing that she was going to direct her
life in future by my counsels。 Will the correspondents be more
copious and less irrelevant in the future？ Suppose that to be the
case； will they be of any use to me in my place of exile？ Is it
possible for a man in Samoa to be in touch with the great heart of
the People？ And is it not perhaps a mere folly to attempt； from so
hopeless a distance； anything so delicate as a series of papers？
Upon these points； perpend； and give me the results of your
perpensions。
3rd。 The emolument would be agreeable to your humble servant。
I have now stated all the PROS； and the most of the CONS are come
in by the way。 There follows； however； one immense Con （with a
capital 'C'）； which I beg you to consider particularly。 I fear
that； to be of any use for your magazine； these papers should begin
with the beginning of a volume。 Even supposing my hands were free；
this would be now impossible for next year。 You have to consider
whether； supposing you have no other objection； it would be worth
while to begin the series in the middle of a volume； or desirable
to delay the whole matter until the beginning of another year。
Now supposing that the CONS have it； and you refuse my offer； let
me make another proposal； which you will be very inclined to refuse
at the first off…go； but which I really believe might in time come
to something。 You know how the penny papers have their answers to
correspondents。 Why not do something of the same kind for the
'culchawed'？ Why not get men like Stimson； Brownell； Professor
James； Goldwin Smith； and others who will occur to you more readily
than to me； to put and to answer a series of questions of
intellectual and general interest； until at last you should have
established a certain standard of matter to be discussed in this
part of the Magazine？
I want you to get me bound volumes of the Magazine from its start。
The Lord knows I have had enough copies； where they are I know not。
A wandering author gathers no magazines。
THE WRECKER is in no forrader state than in last reports。 I have
indeed got to a period when I cannot well go on until I can refresh
myself on the proofs of the beginning。 My respected collaborator；
who handles the machine which is now addressing you； has indeed
carried his labours farther； but not； I am led to understand； with
what we used to call a blessing； at least； I have been refused a
sight of his latest labours。 However； there is plenty of time
ahead； and I feel no anxiety about the tale； except that it may
meet with your approval。
All this voyage I have been busy over my TRAVELS； which； given a
very high temperature