The Road to Frontenac. By Samuel Merwin. (John Murray. 6s.)—This
is an exciting story of adventures among the Redskins of New France in 1687. It begins with the return to Quebec of the hero, Captain Menard, after several years of hardships and fighting in the country of the Five Nations. He was the indis- pensable man, and so with only a day's holiday he was ordered to set out again with despatches for Frontenac. The authorities were planning a big campaign against the Indians, but were carrying out their arrangement with such publicity and want of judgment that the savages were rising before the French were ready for them. A few hours before Menard was to start he was told that he must take Mlle. St. Denis with him, as circum- stances made it necessary that she should go at once to Frontenac. The party consisted of the Captain, the maid, an old priest, young Lieutenant, and the rowers for the canoe, for the journey was up the St. Lawrence River. Things went smoothly at first, but soon they were set upon by Indians, and after a sharp struggle they were taken captives to a village of the Onondagas. By what acts of courage, endurance, and wisdom they were enabled to escape the reader must find out for himself. The story is not all tomahawks and muskets though, for Mademoiselle is charming as well as plucky, and the Captains chivalrous devotion to her is well told. Father Claude is a good example of a missionary who, with all his kindliness and belief in his con- verts, can shoot as straight as any one. The descriptions of the woods and rivers, the sunny days and the glowing camp fires, make a picturesque background to the romance.
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