# Barbara Harding — The Mucker character guide > Barbara Harding in The Mucker by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Barbara, Miss Harding, Harding, Miss Barbara Harding **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-i-billy-byrne ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Billy Byrne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/billy_byrne) _romantic_ Barbara and Billy share a strong romantic connection, with frequent interactions indicating deep emotional involvement and tension. ### [Eddie Shorter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/eddie_shorter) _social_ Barbara and Eddie are acquaintances or social connections, with moderate interaction suggesting a casual relationship. ### [Billy Mallory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/billy_mallory) _friendship_ Barbara and Billy Mallory are friends or allies, with interactions suggesting mutual support. ### [Bridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/bridge) _friendship_ Barbara and Bridge are friends or allies, with a moderate number of interactions indicating a supportive bond. ### [Billy Byrne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/billy_byrne) _romantic_ Barbara and Billy share a strong romantic connection, with frequent interactions indicating deep emotional involvement and tension. ### [Billy Byrne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/billy_byrne) _romantic_ Barbara and Billy share a strong romantic connection, with frequent interactions indicating deep emotional involvement and tension. ### [Eddie Shorter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/eddie_shorter) _social_ Barbara and Eddie are acquaintances or social connections, with moderate interaction suggesting a casual relationship. ### [Bridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/bridge) _friendship_ Barbara and Bridge are friends or allies, with a moderate number of interactions indicating a supportive bond. ### [Bridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/bridge) _friendship_ Barbara and Bridge are friends or allies, with a moderate number of interactions indicating a supportive bond. ### [Billy Mallory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/billy_mallory) _friendship_ Barbara and Billy Mallory are friends or allies, with interactions suggesting mutual support. ### [Billy Mallory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/billy_mallory) _friendship_ Barbara and Billy Mallory are friends or allies, with interactions suggesting mutual support. ### [Eddie Shorter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/eddie_shorter) _social_ Barbara and Eddie are acquaintances or social connections, with moderate interaction suggesting a casual relationship. ## In the story ### [III: The Conspiracy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-iii-the-conspiracy) Reads the introduction note for Count de Cadenet and spends the day with him, becoming the target of the kidnapping plot. ### [IV: Piracy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-iv-piracy) Witnesses Mallory's defeat; is captured and roughly handled by Byrne. ### [Larry Divine Unmasked](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-v-larry-divine-unmasked) Discovers Larry Divine's betrayal and begins to trust Theriere, while reflecting on Billy Mallory's bravery. ### [VI: The Mucker at Bay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-vi-the-mucker-at-bay) Witnesses Byrne's brutality and later feels remorse for suspecting Theriere, believing his bravery proves his honor. ### [The Typhoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-vii-the-typhoon) Places her trust in Theriere, believing him to be a chivalrous protector; extends her friendship and confidence to him. ### [VIII: The Wreck of the Halfmoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-viii-the-wreck-of-the-halfmoon) Assists Theriere at the wheel; stands up to Billy's threats with fearless defiance. ### [IX: Oda Yorimoto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-ix-oda-yorimoto) Confronts Larry Divine, revealing knowledge of his plot and threatening suicide to thwart his plans. ### [X: Barbara Captured by Headhunters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-x-barbara-captured-by-headhunters) Captured by headhunters and taken to Oda Yorimoto's village. ### [The Village of Yoka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xi-the-village-of-yoka) Trapped in Oda Yorimoto's back room, she barricades the door with the daimio's corpse and arms herself with his swords, determined to fight to the death. ### [XII: The Fight in the Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xii-the-fight-in-the-palace) Refuses to abandon Byrne; fights alongside him with a sword. ### [A Gentleman of France](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-a-gentleman-of-france) Tends to Byrne and Theriere's wounds, shows compassion and courage, learns Theriere's true identity. ### [XIV: The Mucker Sees a New Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xiv-the-mucker-sees-a-new-light) Fears Billy's intentions but sees his transformation and begins to trust him, encouraging his self-improvement. ### [XV: The Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xv-the-rescue) Saves Billy by stabbing the samurai, confesses her love, and learns of her father's capture. ### [XVI: The Supreme Sacrifice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xvi-the-supreme-sacrifice) Reunites with her father and Mallory on the island, then collapses upon hearing of Billy Byrne's death. ### [Home Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xvii-home-again) Billy recalls her words of love and decides to live for her, though he believes they cannot be together. ### [The Gulf Between](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xviii-the-gulf-between) Reads about Billy's boxing career, sends him a note, and receives him at her home, hoping to reconnect. ### [The Murder Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-i-the-murder-trial) Reads of Billy's conviction in a New York newspaper and is overcome with grief. ### [III: "Five Hundred Dollars Reward"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-five-hundred-dollars-reward) Referenced in Billy's thoughts as the inspiration for his change of heart. ### [Barbara in Mexico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-ix-barbara-in-mexico) Arrives at the ranch with her father, reflecting on her broken engagement with Billy Mallory. ### [XI: Barbara Releases a Conspirator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xi-barbara-releases-a-conspirator) Barbara engages Bridge in conversation, helps him escape, and later rebuffs Grayson's advance. ### [Billy to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xii-billy-to-the-rescue) Learns of Bridge's capture and rides out to find Billy Byrne, showing her determination and concern. ### [XIII: Barbara Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii-barbara-again) Confronts Billy in the office at El Orobo Rancho, believing he robbed the bank; reveals she did not marry Mallory and expresses concern for Bridge. ### [XIV: ’Twixt Love and Duty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv-twixt-love-and-duty) Paces the veranda, battles pride and love, decides to save Billy Byrne, crosses the river at night to find Brazos. ### [An Indian's Treachery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xv-an-indian-s-treachery) Confirmed missing; her bed was not slept in and she was taken by Pimans. ### [Eddie Makes Good](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi-eddie-makes-good) Rescued by Billy from the Piman village; escapes with him through the night. ### [You Are My Girl!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii-you-are-my-girl) Kisses Billy, pleads with her father, tends to wounded Bridge during the siege. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/barbara_harding - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters