25 NOVEMBER 1893, Page 25

Steve Young. By G. Manville Fenn. (Partridge and Co.)— Captain

Wareham takes the hero of this story on an Arctic voyage, in search of the lad's uncle, who, with his ship and crew, has been lost in those latitudes. He calls at a Norwegian seaport on his way—Mr. Fenn does well to begin far on in his story—and there engages some sturdy Norwegian sailors. They then sail north, Mr. Fenn being equally at home, it would seem, in all latitudes. They have various adventures with the ice and the creatures that inhabit it,—polar-bears, he. There is, as may be supposed, no lack of excitement when the teller of the tale is one so practised in the art. But the finest effect of the book is when the spirits of the crow give way under the depressing influence of an Arctic winter. The ship-doctor, held up by his strong professional feeling of honour, maintains his courage, and contrives to infect young Steve with something of his own spirit. And then, in the very crisis of the tale, the party whom the adventurers have come to rescue appear upon the scene, and do for their deliverers very much what they, had intended to do for them. All this is very well contrived indeed.—Real Gold. By the same author. (W. and R. Chambers.)—From the Arctic Circle Mr. Fenn takes us to the Tropics. This time the adventurer is on the search, not for gold or gems as everybody would suppose, but for means by which to make the cultivation of the ehinchona-tree possible elsewhere than in South America, How he is followed

and watched, through what dangers he passes along with his companions, and how far he succeeds .and how far he fails, is told in this volume. The story is not always easy to follow, for it takes some effort to realise the scenes but it will be found worth taking some trouble for.