Book excerpt: 'The Tides of Barnegat' is an adventure novel written by Francis Hopkinson Smith. The story begins by describing a lovely spring morning when Martha Sands, a nurse, is out with her dog Meg on the beach. They stop to admire the beautiful landscape, which Martha describes as "restful." While Meg is rolling in the sand, a man in a gig, Dr. John Cavendish, approaches with his Irish setter, Rex.