He decided to board a ship at sea rather than marry Isadora. This ship was a slave ship and life on board was not easy. After the uprising of the captured members of the Allmuseri tribe, the ship sinks and he is picked up by another ship. Rutherford comes face to face with Isadora again. The journey from America was not a pleasant boat trip. The crew suffered abuse and there was little consideration for other human beings. The time Rutherford spent on these ships taught him much about the world and ultimately brought a change in his heart. He learned humility and he learned respect. These virtues led him to understand that his dark soul, full of alcohol, gambling and women, was not fulfilling. He learned that Isadora is truly what he wanted and needed. Contrary to the quotes, this is an example of someone who lost his way and was able to see the harshness of slavery and the devil in men and change his heart to a more positive outlook. Rutherford managed to use his wiles to blackmail Dad into marrying Isadora himself. He fought for what he wanted, but he wasn't driven by evil and hatred, it was exactly the opposite. He fought because he saw the good in Isadora and realized that what he was “missing out on” as a married man was simply an unfulfilled and fulfilling life.