From the Book: In this book by Kingston we are introduced to Florida in the mid-19th century, when the tail-end of the wars between the Cherokee and Seminole Indians was still rumbling on, and the white man was still occasionally disturbed by attacks by Indians. Large areas of the territory are swamp, water, and densely overgrown plains. All this is described in detail. Our hero this time is a "school-leaver" from Ireland, whose father seems to have had just one too many sons for him to be able to provide for all of them. His estate is a little encumbered by debt: he is what was known as a squireen. While trying to make up his mind what to do the boy decides to visit relatives in the USA, and that is why he went to Florida. It must be said that he appeared quite thankful to get back more or less in one piece! --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.