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Bloody Jack is a rip-roaring tale of adventure, intrigue, and survival of the fittest. Mary, or little Mary as she is known to her gang, is an orphan in one of the street-urchin gangs of 18th century London. Her
family is killed by the plague, and their bodies are carted away by Muck, the "ghoul", who brings bodies to scientists for study. All the poor of London know that their bodies will eventually belong to "science", and will be carted off in the same way. Mary is determined that this will not be so. When the leader of their gang, Rooster Charlie, is murdered by Muck, Mary strips him of his clothes (an urchin tradition which shows some form of respect), and passes herself off for a boy. Eventually, she winds up at the docks, where a Royal Navy ship is preparing to sail. Mary, or Jack as she has named herself, decides that she wishes to be on that ship. Whilst a large group of boys are clamoring for passage, she calls out that she can read. This allows her to become a ship's boy, along with 4 others. They become good friends, for 3 out of the 4 are street urchins like Jacky. The 4th, James, whose name is shortened to Jaimy. is from a noble family that has hit hard times. The 5 of them perform duties as ship's boys, enjoying their work. They are all taught by "sea dads", sailors who show them the ropes of a Royal Navy ship. Not long after Jacky boards, they come across their first pirate ship. The crew, including the ship's boys, board. A pirate is about to run Jaimy through and make off with the treasure, but Jacky shoots him, and is drenched in the resulting blood, thus earning "him" the nickname, "Bloody Jack." Later, she is accosted by a vile sodomist named Sloat. In self-defense, she sticks her shiv into him, to "give him a little poke, get him off me." This "little poke" is actually a fatal wound, and Sloat goes over the side. Eventually, Jacky is cleared of guilt and is not sentenced to death by hanging, which is her greatest fear. Eventually, Jaimy is told, by Jacky, that she is, in fact, female. A budding romance results, and Jaimy promises to marry Jacky later on. When the Dolphin, their ship, fights the Pirate LeFavre and is damaged, Jacky is hoisted up, as the smallest crew member, on a kite. Before Jacky goes up, the captain tells her, "When your feet next touch land, it will be as Midshipman Jack Faber!" This is an honor that Jacky has been longing for: unfortunately, her kite's anchorage system is faulty. The purpose was merely scientific, but Jacky ends up without an anchor and stranded on an island. Eventually, both the Dolphin and LeFavre meet at this island. LeFavre takes Jacky hostage, and soon everyone knows she is a girl. She is hung almost to death by the pirates, and Jaimy is barely able to revive her. She is then put in the brig, nad it is decided that she will be sent to the Lawson Peabody School for Young Ladies in Boston. Jaimy promises to come get her soon, and the story ends with Jacky leaving the ship to cheers and applause for the "most beautiful middy (midshipman) to ever grace the decks of His Majesty's Navy!"
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