# Billy Byrne — The Mucker character guide > Billy Byrne in The Mucker by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Billy, Kelly, Byrne, Mr. Byrne, Captain Billy Byrne **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-i-billy-byrne ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Bridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/bridge) _friendship_ Billy and Bridge are close companions, likely allies in adventure or conflict, with a high frequency of interaction suggesting mutual reliance. ### [Barbara Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/barbara_harding) _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) _friendship_ Billy and Eddie are friends or companions, with frequent interactions indicating camaraderie or shared experiences. ### [Billy Mallory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/billy_mallory) _friendship_ Billy and Billy Mallory are friends or allies, sharing a bond likely forged through common circumstances. ### [Price Clark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/price_clark) _rivalry_ Billy and Price Clark are competitors or enemies, with conflict likely driving their interactions. ### [Skipper Simms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/skipper_simms) _rivalry_ Billy and Skipper Simms are adversaries, possibly due to conflicting interests or authority struggles. ### [Bridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/bridge) _friendship_ Billy and Bridge are close companions, likely allies in adventure or conflict, with a high frequency of interaction suggesting mutual reliance. ### [Bridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/bridge) _friendship_ Billy and Bridge are close companions, likely allies in adventure or conflict, with a high frequency of interaction suggesting mutual reliance. ### [Barbara Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/barbara_harding) _romantic_ Barbara and Billy share a strong romantic connection, with frequent interactions indicating deep emotional involvement and tension. ### [Barbara Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/barbara_harding) _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) _friendship_ Billy and Eddie are friends or companions, with frequent interactions indicating camaraderie or shared experiences. ### [Price Clark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/price_clark) _rivalry_ Billy and Price Clark are competitors or enemies, with conflict likely driving their interactions. ## In the story ### [Billy Byrne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-i-billy-byrne) The protagonist, a young mucker from Chicago's West Side, involved in petty crime and aspiring to be a prize fighter. ### [Shanghaied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-ii-shanghaied) Shanghaied onto the Halfmoon, Billy is brutally beaten and starved by the captain and mate, but survives and adapts to the rough crew. He develops a hatred for the passenger and overhears a suspicious conversation. ### [III: The Conspiracy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-iii-the-conspiracy) Observes the yacht Lotus with hatred; overhears the conspiracy and is recruited by Theriere into a counter-scheme. ### [IV: Piracy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-iv-piracy) Plans to double-cross Theriere; brutally beats Billy Mallory and captures Barbara Harding. ### [VI: The Mucker at Bay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-vi-the-mucker-at-bay) Attacks Theriere, takes his revolver, and barricades himself in the forecastle, threatening to kill anyone who enters. ### [The Typhoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-vii-the-typhoon) Saves Theriere's life during the typhoon, though conflicted about his own motives; feels jealousy toward Theriere's closeness with Barbara. ### [VIII: The Wreck of the Halfmoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-viii-the-wreck-of-the-halfmoon) Takes Theriere's place at the wheel, showing unexpected courage; later confronts Barbara but is affected by her words and walks away. ### [IX: Oda Yorimoto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-ix-oda-yorimoto) Aligns with Theriere against Simms, non-committally stating 'I'm ag'in' Simms.' ### [X: Barbara Captured by Headhunters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-x-barbara-captured-by-headhunters) Determined to rescue Barbara, showing unusual resolve. ### [The Village of Yoka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xi-the-village-of-yoka) Impatient to rescue Barbara, he argues with Theriere about strategy, revealing a growing compunction and a desire to claim the ransom. ### [XII: The Fight in the Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xii-the-fight-in-the-palace) Wounded but continues fighting; carries Barbara Harding to safety. ### [A Gentleman of France](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-a-gentleman-of-france) Wounded but conscious, experiences emotional transformation, feels friendship for Theriere, carries Theriere's body after his death. ### [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) Experiences a moral awakening, realizing his love for Barbara and choosing to protect her rather than harm her. ### [XV: The Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xv-the-rescue) Kills a samurai to protect Barbara, confesses his love, and expresses deep remorse for his attack on Mallory. ### [XVI: The Supreme Sacrifice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xvi-the-supreme-sacrifice) Returns to the village alone to rescue Harding and Mallory, fights through samurai, and is mortally wounded by spears while covering their escape. ### [Home Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xvii-home-again) Survives his wounds and a fall into a deer pit, recovers on the island, and returns to Chicago where he resumes boxing with Professor Cassidy. ### [The Gulf Between](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-i-xviii-the-gulf-between) Returns to New York, becomes a boxer, visits Barbara but feels he doesn't belong, and overcomes stage fright in a crucial fight. ### [The Murder Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-i-the-murder-trial) Returns to Chicago to give himself up, hoping for exoneration, but is arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for a murder he did not commit. ### [The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-the-escape) Escapes from a deputy sheriff, disarms him, and decides not to kill him due to the memory of Barbara Harding. Later meets Bridge and agrees to travel together. ### [III: "Five Hundred Dollars Reward"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-five-hundred-dollars-reward) Billy forages for food, reflects on his moral change inspired by Barbara Harding, and becomes suspicious of Bridge after finding the reward notice. ### [On the Trail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-iv-on-the-trail) Flees Kansas City with Bridge after a close call with a detective; reveals he did not kill Schneider and reflects on his past as a 'tough guy' and his desire to change. ### [One Turn Deserves Another](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-v-one-turn-deserves-another) Rescues Mrs. Shorter from the tramps, returns her money, and accepts her help to evade the police. ### [Baby Bandits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-vi-baby-bandits) Fugitive planning to cross into Mexico; evades Flannagan in a saloon. ### [In Pesita’s Camp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-vii-in-pesita-s-camp) Captured and brought before Pesita; uses slang to confuse Pesita about his nationality; agrees to become a captain to save Bridge and Miguel. ### [Billy's First Command](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-billy-s-first-command) Now a captain under Pesita, Billy leads the escort mission, defies the ambush, and decides to return to camp despite the danger. ### [X: Billy Cracks a Safe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-x-billy-cracks-a-safe) Captain under Pesita; plans and executes a bank robbery in Cuivaca, using his past experience to crack the safe. ### [Billy to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xii-billy-to-the-rescue) Rescues Bridge from Cuivaca by knocking out the sentry and escaping; reflects on his past and Bridge's romantic situation. ### [XIII: Barbara Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii-barbara-again) Captured by Villistas and Grayson while returning the Brazos pony; imprisoned at El Orobo Rancho; confronts Barbara Harding and later appeals to Eddie Shorter's family ties. ### [XIV: ’Twixt Love and Duty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv-twixt-love-and-duty) Prisoner awaiting execution; Barbara risks her life to save him. ### [An Indian's Treachery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xv-an-indian-s-treachery) Returns to the ranch after escaping captivity, confronts Grayson, and leads the search for Barbara. ### [Eddie Makes Good](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi-eddie-makes-good) Rescues Barbara Harding from the Piman village, fights off attackers, and mourns Eddie's death. ### [You Are My Girl!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii-you-are-my-girl) Professes love for Barbara, receives pardon, defends El Orobo, kills Rozales, and rides for help. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters/billy_byrne - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mucker_se/characters