The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 12 Read online

  THE WORKS OF ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

  SWANSTON EDITION

  VOLUME XII

  _Of this SWANSTON EDITION in Twenty-five Volumes of the Works of ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON Two Thousand and Sixty Copies have been printed, of which only Two Thousand Copies are for sale._

  _This is No. ........._

  R. L. S. DICTATING TO MRS. STRONG IN HIS STUDY AT VAILIMA]

  THE WORKS OF ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

  VOLUME TWELVE

  LONDON : PUBLISHED BY CHATTO AND WINDUS : IN ASSOCIATION WITH CASSELL AND COMPANY LIMITED : WILLIAM HEINEMANN : AND LONGMANS GREEN AND COMPANY MDCCCCXII

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  CONTENTS

  THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I. SUMMARY OF EVENTS DURING THE MASTER'S WANDERINGS 9

  II. SUMMARY OF EVENTS (_continued_) 21

  III. THE MASTER'S WANDERINGS: FROM THE MEMOIRS OF THE CHEVALIER DE BURKE 38

  IV. PERSECUTIONS ENDURED BY MR. HENRY 70

  V. ACCOUNT OF ALL THAT PASSED ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 27TH, 1757 105

  VI. SUMMARY OF EVENTS DURING THE MASTER'S SECOND ABSENCE 127

  VII. ADVENTURE OF CHEVALIER BURKE IN INDIA: EXTRACTED FROM HIS MEMOIRS 147

  VIII. THE ENEMY IN THE HOUSE 152

  IX. MR. MACKELLAR'S JOURNEY WITH THE MASTER 175

  X. PASSAGES AT NEW YORK 194

  XI. THE JOURNEY IN THE WILDERNESS 213

  XII. THE JOURNEY IN THE WILDERNESS (_continued_) 238

  THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE

  _TO_

  _SIR PERCY FLORENCE AND LADY SHELLEY_

  _Here is a tale which extends over many years and travels into manycountries. By a peculiar fitness of circumstance the writer began,continued it, and concluded it among distant and diverse scenes. Aboveall, he was much upon the sea. The character and fortune of thefraternal enemies, the hall and shrubbery of Durrisdeer, the problem ofMackellar's homespun and how to shape it for superior flights; thesewere his company on deck in many star-reflecting harbours, ran often inhis mind at sea to the tune of slatting canvas, and were dismissed(something of the suddenest) on the approach of squalls. It is my hopethat these surroundings of its manufacture may to some degree findfavour for my story with seafarers and sea-lovers like yourselves._

  _And at least here is a dedication from a great way off: written by theloud shores of a subtropical island near upon ten thousand miles fromBoscombe Chine and Manor: scenes which rise before me as I write, alongwith the faces and voices of my friends._

  _Well, I am for the sea once more; no doubt Sir Percy also. Let us makethe signal B. R. D.!_

  _R. L. S._

  _Waikiki_, _May_ 17_th_, 1889.