"No," said Grandma Elsie, "it seems to be nothing but a round of building and destroying, fighting and bloodshed, kept up between the Spaniards and the French; the English also taking part; the Indians too, and in later years negroes also. In 1762 the British captured Havana and in the treaty following the next year Great Britain gave Cuba to Spain in exchange for Florida. "Florida took no part in the Revolutionary War and became a refuge for many loyalists, as it was afterward for fugitive slaves. In 1783 Florida was returned to Spanish rule, Great Britain exchanging it for the Bahamas." "And when did we get it, grandma?" asked Ned. "In 1819, by a treaty between our country and Spain." "Then the fighting stopped, I suppose?" "No; the Seminole wars followed, lasting from 1835 to 1842. Florida was admitted into the Union in 1845, seceded in 1861, bore her part bravely and well through the Civil War, and at its close a State Convention repealed the ordinance of secession." "So since that she has been a part of our Union like the rest of our States; hasn't she, grandma?" asked Ned. "Yes; a part of our own dear country--a large and beautiful State." "And probably it won't be long now till some of us, at least, will see her," observed Grace with satisfaction. "How soon will the _Dolphin_ be ready, papa?" "By the time we are," replied the captain, "which will be as soon as Max can join us." "Dear Max! I long for the time when he will be with us again," said Violet. "I suppose by this time he knows how to manage a vessel almost as well as you do, papa?" observed Ned in an inquiring tone. "I hope so," his father replied with a smile. "So the passengers may all feel very safe, I suppose," said Mrs. Lilburn. "And that being the case you are willing to be one of them, Cousin Annis, are you not?" queried Violet hospitably. "More than willing; glad and grateful to you and the captain for the invitation to be, as my husband is also, I know." "I am neither able nor desirous to deny that, my dear," laughed Cousin Ronald. "Ah, ha; ah, ha; um, hm! It will be my first visit to Florida, and I'm thinking we'll have a grand time of it--looking up the sites and scenes of the old histories we've been reading and chatting over." CHAPTER VI. The yacht was ready in due season, and the weather being favorable Captain Raymond invited as many of the connection as could be comfortably accommodated on board, to go with him to witness the graduation of Max and his classmates. Certainly his own immediate family, Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore and Grandma Elsie would be of that number; Evelyn Leland also and Cousins Ronald and Annis Lilburn.