Three Years with Thunderbolt. Edited by Ambrose Pratt. (Cassell and
Co. 6s.)—This is a curious book, almost unique if, as we have no reason to doubt, the facts which are stated in the preface aro oorrectly given. William Monckton, who is now a generally respected and well-to-do citizen of the Australian Commonwealth, describes three years (1866-69) which he spent with " Thunderbolt," a famous bushranger. The lad, who was only fourteen when this strange phase of his life began, had been cruelly ill-treated by his stepfather, ran away from home and fell in with the man. The two made a solemn partnership and treaty —a little odd when we consider the extreme youth of Monekton- and kept it faithfully, though their harmony was more than once threatened by serious differences. Their chief occupation was "holding up" stage-coaches, with occasional diversions of horse-racing, and there was, of course, the perpetual necessity of avoiding the police. The intelligence and courage of this body do not show to much advantage; but then we do not hear their side of the case. And it is not difficult to see that hunting for a man in the wilderness of the Australian interior was no easy matter. One noticeable feature of the story is that there was no bloodshed. The invention of the revolver has worked in this direction. The attacking party produces his weapon, which he has found it easy to conceal, and unless there is a person of exceptional daring among the attacked, all goes smoothly. At the end of the three years Monckton's conscience, aided by increasing difficulties in his relations with "Thunderbolt," moved him to give up the life. He surrendered to the authorities, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment (a term reduced to four- teen months), and on his release found employment, and is now a prosperous man. The story is well worth reading. We do not remember to have seen anything quite like it.
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