The great virtue of his
philosophy, unlike much of a more scholastic origin, was its practical
utility. From the past, with its conquered trials, he turned to the
future, to inquire for its dangers, to ask what snares it had spread to
entangle the fair being whom he worshipped with all a lover's fondness,
without the lover's sentiment.
We will not follow him in his peregrinations through the mazes of the
misty future, for they were interrupted by the appearance on the water
of a distant object, which excited his attention. A searching and
anxious scrutiny convinced him that it was the boat in which Maxwell had
made his escape. Though at a great distance from him, he could see that
it contained two men. Guardian as he was of his mistress' honor and
safety, the sight awakened all his fears and called up all his energy.
Did they know that his mistress had gone to Cottage Island? It was
possible that Vernon had obtained a knowledge of her movements. The
faithful fellow was almost maddened at the thought.
The boat approached Cottage Island, and Hatchie observed them pull in
under the high bank.
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