Jack Tier or The Florida Reef Author:James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooper was a 19th century writer known for his historical romances and stories of the sea. His Leatherstocking tales including the novel The Last of the Mohicans are his best-known works. Jack Tier first appeared in Graham's Magazine, under the title of "Rose Budd." The story begins with Captain Spike on the half-rigged, brigant... more »ine Molly Swash, waiting to leave the harbor in New York. Cooper says of Spike in his introduction "The species of treason portrayed in these pages is no uncommon occurrence; and it will often be found that the traitor is the loudest in his protestations of patriotism. It is a pretty safe rule to suspect the man of hypocrisy who makes a parade of his religion, and the partisan of corruption and selfishness, who is clamorous about the rights of the people. Captain Spike was altogether above the first vice; though fairly on level, as respects the second, with divers patriots who live by their deity."« less