16 NOVEMBER 1901, Page 48

Carbineer and Scout. By E. H. Burrage. (Blackie and Son.

2s. Gd.)—This is a story of the Boer War, and deserves commen- dation for the moderate tone in which Mr. Burrage speaks of the foe. There are no very exciting incidents, nor is there much power of description shown, though in one or two of the fights, notably in the action outside Ladysmith which proved so disastrous to the Boers, the advance of the British is very stirring. Mr. Burrage does not move quickly enough, and he has no grasp of the details of war, which, handled vigorously, are necessary if the pulse of the reader is to beat a little faster than usual. The best feature of the story is the picture he draws for us of the intelligent Boer, Vander Voerft, sometime resident in England, who returns to fight for the Transvaal, knowing the certain result, yet unable to convince others. The two heroes, Cyril and Hugh, are nice boys, and capital specimens of the Imperial Volunteer.