Beadle's New Dime Novels

This is Beadle and Adams No. 505 (Standard series #184), a dime novel by Mrs. Mary A. Denison titled Ruth Margerie: A Romance of the Revolt of 1687. The narrative opens in 1682 Boston at the Red Lion tavern. A traveler, Godfrey Lamb, writes home describing the colonial town and mentions a pretty maid named Ruth who faces local persecution, noting that the handsome Captain of the Prudent Sarah may intervene on her behalf. A subplot involves romantic rivalry over Ruth between this captain and a noble lady named Adèle Lamont. The evening setting introduces two mariners: a pirate known as Captain Bill who lands secretly with men to gather intelligence about passengers aboard the Prudent Sarah, and Captain Cameron, an upstanding seaman whose ship is the Kingfisher. Cameron employs a colorful sailor named Marmaduke Catchcod. The narrative promises intrigue combining romance, nautical adventure, and colonial-era conflict.