"Afloat and Ashore: A Sea Tale" by James Fenimore Cooper is a nautical fiction novel published in 1844. Set in the early 1800s, it follows Miles Wallingford Jr., a wealthy New York landowner's son who goes to sea after his parents' death. Drawing on Cooper's own maritime experiences, the novel explores Miles's adventures and his complicated relationship with Neb, a runaway slave who becomes his companion aboard ship. The story ends abruptly, requiring a sequel to resolve its plot and themes. (This is an automatically generated summary.)