[_Vailima_] _Jan._ 2_nd_, ’92.
MY DEAR BURLINGAME,—Overjoyed you were pleased with _Wrecker_, and shall
consider your protests. There is perhaps more art than you think for in
the peccant chapter, where I have succeeded in packing into one a
dedication, an explanation, and a termination. Surely you had not
recognised the phrase about boodle? It was a quotation from Jim
Pinkerton, and seemed to me agreeably skittish. However, all shall be
prayerfully considered.
To come to a more painful subject. Herewith go three more chapters of
the wretched _History_; as you see, I approach the climax. I expect the
book to be some 70,000 words, of which you have now 45. Can I finish it
for next mail? I am going to try! ’Tis a long piece of journalism, and
full of difficulties here and there, of this kind and that, and will make
me a power of friends to be sure. There is one Becker who will probably
put up a window to me in the church where he was baptized; and I expect a
testimonial from Captain Hand.
Sorry to let the mail go without the Scott; this has been a bad month
with me, and I have been below myself. I shall find a way to have it
come by next, or know the reason why. The mail after, anyway.
A bit of a sketch map appears to me necessary for my _History_; perhaps
two. If I do not have any, ’tis impossible any one should follow; and I,
even when not at all interested, demand that I shall be able to follow;
even a tourist book without a map is a cross to me; and there must be
others of my way of thinking. I inclose the very artless one that I
think needful. Vailima, in case you are curious, is about as far again
behind Tanugamanono as that is from the sea.
M‘Clure is publishing a short story of mine, some 50,000 words, I think,
_The Beach of Falesà_; when he’s done with it, I want you and Cassell to
bring it out in a little volume; I shall send you a dedication for it; I
believe it good; indeed, to be honest, very good. Good gear that pleases
the merchant.
The other map that I half threaten is a chart for the hurricane. Get me
Kimberley’s report of the hurricane: not to be found here. It is of most
importance; I _must_ have it with my proofs of that part, if I cannot
have it earlier, which now seems impossible.—Yours in hot haste,