Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 476

About this issue

The Red Sea-Raider by Colonel Prentiss Ingraham is a romantic adventure serial set in early-nineteenth-century Massachusetts. The narrative opens with jealous sailor Bob Brent witnessing his naval officer brother Basil propose to Norma Sprague, a wealthy commodore's daughter, by a buccaneer's grave. Basil asks Norma to marry his brother if he perishes at sea. The story backtracks to establish the two prominent families: the merchant Spragues and the naval Brents. It details how Basil and Bob, half-brothers, rescued shipwrecked sailors in a storm as youths—earning Basil a naval midshipman's appointment while Bob received only monetary reward. Years later, Bob heroically rescues young Norma from Beacon Hill during a destructive fire, suffering severe burns. The narrative establishes a love triangle and hints at Bob's resentment of his father's favoritism toward Basil, setting up conflict over Norma's affections.