In the Wonderful Land of Hez; or, The Mystery of the Fountain of Youth

This novel, set in 1880, follows the life of two men, Professor Remington Easy and Martin Haypole, who begin the story as they set sail for Lake Okeechobee in southern Florida. The professor was interested in exploring the Everglades, an unexplored region in southern Florida, and had spared no expense to fit himself out for the trip. They had entered Lake Okeechobee two days prior and hoped to reach the marshes before nightfall. However, progress to their destination has been slow, due to their boat lacking a centerboard and encountering contrary winds.