But the danger had now abated, for a time
at least; and if his authority was not restored with all its former
influence, it was admitted to exist, and to maintain its ascendency a
little longer.
It is true that his slow-minded sons, even while they submitted to the
impressions of the recent event, had glimmerings of terrible
distrusts, as to the manner in which their elder brother had met with
his death. There were faint and indistinct images in the minds of two
or three of the oldest, which portrayed the father himself, as ready
to imitate the example of Abraham, without the justification of the
sacred authority which commanded the holy man to attempt the revolting
office. But then, these images were so transient, and so much obscured
in intellectual mists, as to leave no very strong impressions, and the
tendency of the whole transaction, as we have already said, was rather
to strengthen than to weaken the authority of Ishmael.
In this disposition of mind, the party continued their route towards
the place whence they had that morning issued on a search which had
been crowned with so melancholy a success.
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