Beadle's Pocket Library No. 256

Merle Monte's Last Cruise Colonel Prentiss Ingraham's serial "Merle Monte's Last Cruise: or, The Sea Robber at Bay" continues the exploits of a naval officer pursuing piracy in the Gulf of Mexico. A uniformed man lies bound to a bayou tree, gagged and helpless as an alligator approaches—he faints as the reptile closes in. A mysterious figure in a canoe, disguised as a Mexican Indian and named Peon, witnesses a boat capturing "Captain Pierre Dupont, the Sea Marauder," then rescues the bound man from the alligator by driving a knife into the creature's brain. The rescued man's hair has turned white from terror. Days later, near New Orleans, Peon (disguised as a squaw) and the white-haired man (the Sea Marauder himself, seeking revenge) plan to capture Midshipman Merle Monte's Gold Ship, which carries treasure. Three vessels approach: the Gold Ship, the Sea Marauder, and a lugger—all in view of the conspirators.