When night had closed in without bringing back the absent children,
the two fathers, lighting torches of fat pine, went forth in search of
the wanderers. How often did they raise their voices in hopes their
loud halloos might reach the hearing of the lost ones! How often did
they check their hurried steps to listen for some replying call! But
the sighing breeze in the pine tops, or sudden rustling of the leaves
caused by the flight of the birds startled by the unusual glare of the
torches, and the echoes of their own voices, were the only sounds that
met their anxious ears. At daybreak they returned, sad and dispirited,
to their homes, to snatch a morsel of food, endeavour to cheer the
drooping hearts of the weeping mothers, and hurry off, taking
different directions. But, unfortunately, they had little clue to the
route which Hector and Louis had taken, there being many cattle-paths
through the woods. Louis's want of truthfulness had caused this
uncertainty, as he had left no intimation of the path he purposed
taking when he quitted his mother's house. He had merely said he was
going with Hector in search of the cattle, giving no hint of his
intention of asking Catharine to accompany them; he had but told his
sick sister that he would bring home strawberries and flowers, and
that he would soon return. Alas! poor, thoughtless Louis! how little
did you think of the web of woe you were then weaving for yourself,
and all those to whom you and your companions were so dear! Children,
think twice ere ye deceive once.

Catharine's absence would have been quite unaccountable but for the
testimony of Duncan and Kenneth, who had received her sisterly
caresses before she joined Hector at the barn; and much her mother
marvelled what could have induced her good, dutiful Catharine to have
left her work and forsaken her household duties to go rambling away