The main conflict in this story is portrayed as Tobias MacIvey's struggle to survive against the elements, but it is actually the MacIvey family's struggle to become successful and stay true to the ways of rural living. Rising action is found widely throughout this novel in each chapter. Every time the clan would go on a cattle drive, each time Tobias was taken away from home by a government man, or whenever Zech met a new girl was the rising action of the novel. Almost every chapter had a climax, a new story to be ended or started, a smaller episode within itself. The resolution of the conflict in the beginning of the novel was that Tobias moved the cabin deeper south into the swamp so that they were more isolated and he could not be taken away from home again. Another resolution in the story is when Zech rounded up a militia that he paid to take care of the bushwhackers.
2. Setting.
The setting in this story is very significant in a sense that most of the obstacles would not have been presented to the MacIvey family unless they lived in Florida. No other state has such ridiculous, severe, and diverse weather conditions as Florida. Also, the state at the time was being changed at an incredible rate that was mimicking the rest of the eastern coast. .
3. Characters.
Tobias MacIvey - He is the first MacIvey to venture into the uncharted lands of southern Florida. He originally lived in Georgia, but to escape a potential war and starvation for his children and family he moved down to Florida with just the clothes on his back and a gun in his hand.
Emma MacIvey - She is Tobias's wife. She is the backbone of Tobias, the rational side of him. They are together one character with many flaws but perfect nonetheless.
Zechariah "Zech" MacIvey - Zech is the son of Emma and Tobias MacIvey. He grows up in the swamps and prairies of early Florida and becomes a great horse rider and cattle herder.