19 NOVEMBER 1892, Page 12

incidents are skilfully kept within the limits of the credible,

while they are made to differ somewhat from the familiar experiences of African travel and adventure. The two friends are left on shore by a captain who disapproves of their protests against the traffic in liquor, and start for an exploration on their own account. Sundry dangers are met and overcome ; but their fate reaches its most critical point when they fall in with a tribe of dwarfs. These curious beings are the latest addition to our knowledge of the marvels of Africa, and they have been skilfully utilised for the purposes of the story. Altogether, Mr. Allen—whose style, we may remark, has a slight tinge of Americanism—has made a success with his book.