The Mark of the Golden Dragon: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Jewel of the East, Vexation of the West, and Pearl of the South China Sea

by L. A. Meyer

Overview

Jacky Faber embarks on another rousing adventure to delight her ever-growing legion of fans. The irrepressible Jacky Faber, condemned for life to the English penal colony in Australia for crimes against the Crown, has once again wriggled out of the grasp of British authorities. Back on her flagship, the Lorelei Lee, she eagerly heads back to England in the company of friends and her beloved Jaimy Fletcher. But when the voyage is waylaid by pirates, storms, and her own impetuous nature, Jacky is cast into a world of danger that extends from the South China Sea to the equally treacherous waters of London politics. With the help of her loyal friends, Jacky meets her enemies head-on in this tale of love, courage, and redemption. This ebook includes a sample chapter of VIVA JACQUELINA!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547677453
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	10/04/2011
Series:	Bloody Jack Adventure Series , #9
Sold by:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	106,749
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

L. A. Meyer is the acclaimed writer of the Bloody Jack Adventures, which follows the exploits of an impetuous heroine risen from the squalid streets of London to become an adventurer of the highest order. He and his wife operate an art gallery near his home in a small fishing village on the coast of Maine.

L. A. Meyer (1942–2014) was the acclaimed writer of the Bloody Jack Adventure series, which follows the exploits of an impetuous heroine who has fought her way up from the squalid streets of London to become an adventurer of the highest order. Mr. Meyer was an art teacher, an illustrator, a designer, a naval officer, and a gallery owner. All of those experiences helped him in the writing of his curious tales of the beloved Jacky Faber. Visit www.jackyfaber.com for more information on the author and his books.
 

Read an Excerpt

Prologue

December 1807
Off the coast of Java
Onboard the Lorelei Lee

O God of Grace and Glory, we come before you this day in memory of our fallen shipmate. In your boundless compassion, console those of us who are left behind to mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on Earth until by your call we are united with those who have gone before, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eternal Father whose arm doth sometimes calm the restless wave, and whose mighty arm doth at other times whip the sea into an angry froth, please accept into your loving arms the soul of our lost mate who in your greater wisdom you saw fit to take. We commend unto your divine presence our beloved comrade . . .

Jacky Faber.

Amen.

Part I

Chapter 1
My name is Jacky Faber and I am—by the grace of God, of Neptune, and of all the lesser gods—Owner and Captain of the Lorelei Lee, possibly the most beautiful brigantine bark ever to sail the seven seas. I am once again back in command of that fine ship. I am in my lovely cabin and my bottom is pressed back in its favorite chair at the head of my fine table, and grouped about that table are many of my dearest friends.

I’ve a glass of fine wine in my fist and my dearly beloved James Emerson Fletcher sits here beside me, his hand in mine. Oh, Jaimy, finally!

I am supremely happy.

Now a drop of Nelson’s blood would not do us any harm,
No, a drop of Nelson’s blood would not do us any harm . . .

Things are getting a mite rowdy here on the Lorelei Lee as we lift our glasses and bellow out the words to the song. My ship has been sailing in company with the Cerberus and HMS Dart back up the Strait of Malacca, with Sumatra to port and the Malay Archipelago to starboard, having left Australia, and all its meager charms, far behind.

Most of those in this northerly bound fleet had been condemned to servitude in the penal colony in New South Wales, but we managed, through various mutinies, battles, and some very welcome help from God, luck, and a Chinese pirate, to wriggle free of those bonds, and for that we are eternally grateful. I am, anyway.

Were we guilty of those crimes for which we were transported to the other side of the world? Well, the Irish lads were guilty mostly of merely being Irish. My own dear Jaimy Fletcher, former Lieutenant in His Majesty’s Royal Navy and now in the eyes of that Service a vile pirate captain, was mainly guilty of merely being associated with me, false witness being brought against his good name.

My own guilt? Well, I’ll let others decide that, but I won’t stick around and wait for their decision. Oh, I suppose when I stand before the Pearly Gates, I’ll have a few things to answer for, but I’d rather have God judge me and my actions than be judged by the King’s ministers, who have not been all that kind in their treatment of my poor self. I do hope God will be more merciful than King George has proven to be.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This resilient and exuberant heroine deserves a stamp of approval."-Kirkus, starred review    "Delivering the high adventure, good humor, and bits of ballad that the Bloody Jack Adventure series is known for, this historical novel will please avid fans of Jacky."—Booklist

Editorial Reviews

• "This resilient and exuberant heroine deserves a stamp of approval."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Delivering the high adventure, good humor, and bits of ballad that the Bloody Jack Adventure series is known for, this historical novel will please avid fans of Jacky."—Booklist

From the Publisher

Change the red pig tails to a dark single braid, and Pippi Longstocking grows up into the pirate and entrepreneur, Jacky Faber. This unique and high strung heroine brings a new dimension to high seas' adventure books, with her lively comrades and the exploits that take her around the world and back again. Trouble finds Jacky at every avenue, and sometimes it seems that each one will be the last, but somehow she turns foes into friends or maybe just into business partners for the moment. During this particular quest, Jacky goes overboard with her adopted son, Ravi, and the story begins. I find it refreshing to have a strong, sensitive female lead that makes life and death decisions at the drop of a hat while earning the respect of her all-male crew. The use of the entire world as a setting allows readers the opportunity to find out what it would be like to set sail in a boat and travel, while they sit in a school desk or a cozy chair. Being that Pippi Longstocking was a favorite character of mine, it takes away from Jacky for me when she has her sensual encounters which could have been down played a lot, thus encompassing a wider audience. This book is part of the "Bloody Jack Adventure" series. Reviewer: Julia Beiker

Children's Literature - Julia Beiker