Character guide

Billy Byrne

major

Also known as Billy, Kelly, Byrne, Mr. Byrne, Captain Billy Byrne

A Chicago gangster and second-story man whose raw nerve and appetite for adventure are tested against savagery, love, and the slow discovery of a better self.

Barbara Harding

major

Also known as Barbara, Miss Harding, Harding, Miss Barbara Harding

A wealthy young woman stranded among scoundrels and murderers, whose respect and scorn become the mirror in which a hardened mucker first sees the man he might become.

Bridge

supporting

Also known as Señor Bridge, Mr. Bridge, Mr. L. Bridge

A sardonic, well-spoken American who talks his way through outlaw camps and revolutions, translating Billy's street slang into something generals and gentlemen can parse.

Mr. Theriere

supporting

Also known as Theriere, Henri Theriere, Second Officer Theriere

A French officer and secret count who begins as a schemer circling Barbara's fortune, then dies a brave gentleman asking forgiveness of the mucker he once called a coward.

Eddie Shorter

supporting

Also known as Eddie, Eddie Welch, Shorter

Billy's loyal Chicago friend, who rides beside him into the Piman hills and proves that the mucker's world of hard men still holds room for real partnership.

General Pesita

supporting

Also known as Pesita, the great General Pesita, Mr. Pesita

A Mexican revolutionary general in brass epaulets, ragged overalls, and bare feet, who mistakes Billy for a fellow outlaw and hands him a captaincy in a war he doesn't understand.

Grayson

supporting

Also known as Mr. Grayson, Señor Grayson

An American rancher in Mexico whose willingness to shelter strangers becomes a quiet test of whether Billy Byrne can be trusted among decent people.

Billy Mallory

supporting

Also known as Mallory, William Mallory, poor Billy

A wealthy young suitor of Barbara Harding whose privileged rivalry with Billy Byrne forces everyone to ask what kind of man actually deserves her.

Skipper Simms

supporting

Also known as Simms, the Halfmoon Skipper Simms

The blustering captain of the Halfmoon who helps engineer Barbara Harding's abduction, then loses his ship and his authority in a single disastrous voyage.

Mr. Ward

minor

Also known as Ward, fool Ward

A crew member on the Halfmoon who participates in the conspiracy.

Anthony Harding

supporting

Also known as Mr. Harding, old Anthony Harding

Barbara's wealthy father, whose fortune makes his daughter a target and whose standards of respectability Billy Byrne can never hope to meet.

Sergeant Flannagan

supporting

Also known as Detective Sergeant Flannagan, Flannagan, Sergeant

A Chicago detective sergeant on Billy Byrne's trail for murder, representing the law that the mucker has spent his whole life evading.

Larry Divine

supporting

Also known as Divine, Mr. Divine, Larry

A smooth, well-connected suitor of Barbara Harding who is deeper in the plot against her than he wants anyone to know.

Miguel

minor

A Mexican servant or soldier in Pesita's camp.

José

minor

Also known as old José

An elderly Mexican who aids Billy in Mexico.

Captain Rozales

minor

Also known as Rozales, Captain Guillermo Rozales

A Mexican officer who opposes Pesita and interacts with Billy.

Oda Yorimoto

supporting

Also known as Daimio Oda Yorimoto, the late Oda Yorimoto

Oda Yorimoto presides over Yoka as its absolute lord, his authority so feared that his own samurai hesitate to enter a room without his leave. He keeps Barbara captive in the small chamber behind his palace, a silent, unseen presence whose intentions even his son Oda Iseka claims not to know. His savagery and the dread he inspires set the terms of Barbara's captivity and force Billy Byrne and Theriere into the desperate palace rescue that defines the island arc.

Professor Cassidy

minor

Also known as Cassidy

A professor who appears in the Chicago scenes.

Patrolman Stanley Lasky

minor

Also known as Lasky, Patrolman Lasky

A Chicago policeman involved in the manhunt for Billy.

Bony Sawyer

minor

Also known as Bony, Bony Sawyer

A sailor on the Halfmoon.

Captain Norris

minor

Also known as Norris

A ship captain who aids in the rescue of Barbara.

Red Sanders

minor

Also known as Red, Sanders

A sailor or criminal associate from Chicago.

Oda Iseka

minor

A Japanese headhunter associated with Oda Yorimoto.

Schneider

minor

Also known as old man Schneider

A minor character, possibly a sailor or Mexican.

Coke Sheehan

minor

Also known as Sheehan, Coke Sheehan

A criminal associate from Chicago.

Mr. Foster

minor

Also known as Foster

A minor character, possibly a sailor or official.

Price Clark

minor

Also known as The Clark brothers

A minor character, possibly a sailor or criminal.

Tony

minor

A minor character, possibly a sailor or Mexican bandit.

Francisco Villa

minor

Also known as Villa, General Villa, General Francisco Villa

The historical Mexican revolutionary general mentioned in the story.

Brazos

minor

Also known as The Brazos

A Mexican bandit or soldier in the narrative.

Blanco

minor

A Mexican character, possibly a soldier or bandit.

Maggie Shane

minor

Also known as Maggie

A woman from Billy's past in Chicago.

Count de Cadenet

minor

Also known as De Cadenet, the Count de Cadenet

A French nobleman who appears in the island adventure.

Battling Dago Pete

minor

Also known as Pete, Dago Pete

A thug from Chicago who fights Billy.

Miller

minor

Also known as Poor Miller

A sailor on the Halfmoon who meets a tragic end.

Wison

minor

A minor character, possibly a sailor or Mexican.

Crumb

minor

A sailor on the Halfmoon.

Swenson

minor

Also known as Poor Swenson

A sailor on the Halfmoon who dies during the typhoon.

Dink

minor

A minor character from Chicago's underworld.

Benito

minor

A Mexican servant or soldier.

Larry Hilmore

minor

Also known as Hilmore, Larry

A minor character, possibly a sailor or Mexican.

Penelope

minor

A minor female character, possibly a servant.

James

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or sailor.

Mrs. Shorter

minor

Eddie Shorter's mother, a minor character in Chicago.

Esteban

minor

A Mexican character, possibly a servant or soldier.

Henry Herbert Knibbs

minor

Also known as Knibbs

A minor character, possibly a poet or traveler.

The Harlem Hurricane

minor

Also known as The Hurricane, Hurricane

A nickname for a boxer or tough guy from Chicago.

Gee

minor

A minor character, possibly a Chinese sailor or servant.

Sing

minor

A Chinese character, possibly a servant or sailor.

George

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or sailor.

Clinker

minor

A minor character, possibly a sailor.

Lord of Yoka

minor

Also known as Yoka

A headhunter chief on the island where Barbara is held.

Corbett

minor

A minor character, possibly a boxer or thug.

Maw Watson

minor

Also known as Maw, Watson

A minor female character from Chicago.