held out his
hand to his brother-in-law and said--'My wife Luisa sendeth love and
greetings to Serena. Is she in good health?'

"Karta would not take the hand held out to him.

"'What is that to thee or thy wife either?' he answered rudely. 'Look to
thy own business and meddle not with mine.'

"Simi's face grew red with anger, but he spoke quietly and reproved his
brother-in-law for his rude speech. 'Why insult me needlessly before so
many strangers?' he said. 'What harm have I or my wife Luisa ever done
to thee?'

"'Curse thee and Luisa, thy wife,' said Karta again; 'she and thee, aye,
and Serena too, are well matched, for ye be all cunning sneaks and fit
company for that fat-faced Samoan psalm-singer who stands beside thee.'

"At these words the three beachcombers laughed, and when they saw that
Simi made no answer, but turned aside from Karta in contempt, one of
them called him a coward.

"He turned upon him quickly. 'Thou liest, thou drunken, useless cumberer
of the earth,' he said, looking at him scornfully; 'no coward am I, nor
a noisy boaster like thee. This is no place for us to quarrel. But say
such a thing to me on the beach if ye dare.'

"'He is my friend/ said Karta, speaking with drunken rage, and thrusting
his face into Simi's, 'he is as good a man as thee any day. To strike
him or any one of us thou art afraid, thou cat-hearted coward and
miser.'

"Simi clenched his hands, but suddenly thrust them into his pockets and
looked at the captain and the officers of the ship.

"'This is no place for me,' he again said in a low voice; 'come, Tavita,
let us go,' and without even raising his eyes to Karta and the three
other men he went out of the cabin.

"That night he, Luisa, and I and my wife sat talking; and in the fulness
of her anger at the insults heaped upon her husband, Luisa told us of
some things.

"'This man Karta hateth both my sister and myself, as well as my
husband. He hateth me because that it was I whom he desired to marry,
four years ago; but I feared him too much to become his wife, for
even in those days I knew him to be a drunkard and a gambler, and a
licentious man. Then although she loved him not my sister Serena became
his wife, for he was a man of good property, and promised to give over
his evil ways and be a good husband to her. And he hateth her and would
gladly see her dead, for she hath borne him no children. He is for
ever flinging cruel words at her, and hath said to