Beadle's Pocket Library No. 109

The Branded Hand; The Man of Mystery

Serial adventure by Frank Dumont, author of "Wide-Awake" and other works. The ship Sea Serpent pitches through a Gulf of Mexico storm. Second mate Jasper Daniels manipulates superstitious crew into hunting for a "Jonah" stowaway, intending to uncover a hidden person who might threaten the vessel's secret cargo of arms and ammunition for Mexico. A young girl flees the hold and is protected by Richard, an American passenger. Eldora reveals she witnessed her father's assassination years ago and glimpsed the murderer's branded palm bearing the letter "A"—mark of an assassin. The ship's captain, Alvarez, overhears and recognizes himself in her description; he murdered Eldora's father and guardian to claim her estate, having placed her on a departing ship as a child. When Richard defends the girl against Alvarez's orders to throw her overboard, the captain orders Richard hanged from the yard-arm. Supporting characters include Phelim McNamara, an Irish servant afflicted with seasickness, and Carl, a portly German passenger.