25. CHAPTER XXV.
A few days passed: the brigantine drifting hither and
thither, and nothing in sight but the sea, when forth again
on its stillness rung Annatoo's domestic alarum. The truce
was up. Most egregiously had the lady infringed it; appropriating
to herself various objects previously disclaimed
in favor of Samoa. Besides, forever on the prowl, she was
perpetually going up and down; with untiring energy, exploring
every nook and cranny; carrying off her spoils and
diligently secreting them. Having little idea of feminine
adaptations, she pilfered whatever came handy:—iron hooks,
dollars, bolts, hatchets, and stopping not at balls of marline
and sheets of copper. All this, poor Samoa would
have borne with what patience he might, rather than
again renew the war, were it not, that the audacious
dame charged him with peculations upon her own private
stores; though of any such thing he was innocent as the
bowsprit.
This insulting impeachment got the better of the poor
islander's philosophy. He keenly resented it. And the consequence
was, that seeing all domineering useless, Annatoo flew
off at a tangent; declaring that, for the future, Samoa might
stay by himself; she would have nothing more to do with
him. Save when unavoidable in managing the brigantine,
she would not even speak to him, that she wouldn't, the
monster! She then boldly demanded the forecastle—in the
brig's case, by far the pleasantest end of the ship—for her
own independent suite of apartments. As for hapless Belisarius,
he might do what he pleased in his dark little den
of a cabin.
Concerning the division of the spoils, the termagant succeeded
in carrying the day; also, to her quarters, bale after
bale of goods, together with numerous odds and ends, sundry
and divers. Moreover, she laid in a fine stock of edibles,
so as, in all respects possible, to live independent of her
spouse.
Unlovely Annatoo! Unfortunate Samoa! Thus did the
pair make a divorce of it; the lady going upon a separate
maintenance,—and Belisarius resuming his bachelor loneliness.
In the captain's state room, all cold and comfortless,
he slept; his lady whilome retiring to her forecastle boudoir;
beguiling the hours in saying her pater-nosters, and tossing
over and assorting her ill-gotten trinkets and finery; like
Madame De Maintenon dedicating her last days and nights
to continence and calicoes.
But think you this was the quiet end of their conjugal
quarrels? Ah, no! No end to those feuds, till one or
t'other gives up the ghost.
Now, exiled from the nuptial couch, Belisarius bore the
hardship without a murmur. And hero that he was, who
knows that he felt not like a soldier on a furlough? But
as for Antonina, she could neither get along with Belisarius,
nor without him. She made advances. But of what sort?
Why, breaking into the cabin and purloining sundry goods
therefrom; in artful hopes of breeding a final reconciliation
out of the temporary outburst that might ensue.
Then followed a sad scene of altercation; interrupted at
last by a sudden loud roaring of the sea. Rushing to the
deck, they beheld themselves sweeping head-foremost toward
a shoal making out from a cluster of low islands, hitherto,
by banks of clouds, shrouded from view.
The helm was instantly shifted; and the yards braced
about. But for several hours, owing to the freshness of the
breeze, the set of the currents, and the irregularity and extent
of the shoal, it seemed doubtful whether they would
escape a catastrophe. But Samoa's seamanship, united to
Annatoo's industry, at last prevailed; and the brigantine
was saved.
Of the land where they came so near being wrecked,
they knew nothing; and for that reason, they at once steered
away. For after the fatal events which had overtaken the
Parki at the Pearl Shell islands, so fearful were they of
encountering any Islanders, that from the first they had
resolved to keep open sea, shunning every appearance of
land; relying upon being eventually picked up by some
passing sail.
Doubtless this resolution proved their salvation. For to
the navigator in these seas, no risk so great, as in approaching
the isles; which mostly are so guarded by outpost reefs,
and far out from their margins environed by perils, that the
green flowery field within, lies like a rose among thorns;
and hard to be reached as the heart of proud maiden.
Though once attained, all three—red rose, bright shore, and
soft heart—are full of love, bloom, and all manner of delights.
The Pearl Shell islands excepted.
Besides, in those generally tranquil waters, Samoa's little
craft, though hundreds of miles from land, was very readily
managed by himself and Annatoo. So small was the Parki,
that one hand could brace the main-yard; and a very easy
thing it was, even to hoist the small top-sails; for after their
first clumsy attempt to perform that operation by hand, they
invariably led the halyards to the windlass, and so managed
it, with the utmost facility.
