Soon after this six young men came down in the United States consul-general's boat, singing in parts and beating time with their oars.

In my interview with them I came off better than with the damsels in the canoe.

They bore an invitation from General Churchill for me to come and dine at the consulate.

There was a lady's hand in things about the consulate at Samoa.

Mrs.
Churchill picked the crew for the general's boat, and saw to it that they wore a smart uniform and that they could sing the Samoan boatsong, which in the first week Mrs.Churchill herself could sing like a native girl.
Next morning bright and early Mrs.Robert Louis Stevenson came to the _Spray_ and invited me to Vailima the following day.