The Way of an Eagle. By E. 31, Dell. "First
Novel Library." (T. Fisher ljnwin. 6s.)—There is a certain force and 'rigourabout this book which will commend it to the reader, though it suffers severely from the common faults incidental to a first novel. The characters are almost all of them Anglo-Indians, and the scone is laid both in India and in England. The opening chapters, which are concerned with a hill fortress besieged by natives on the frontier, aro most exciting, and the melodramatic element, which the author seems unable to help introducing, is more in place there than in the later portions of the book. The character of the hero is not very convincing, though considerable pains have obviously boon taken in its construction. It is very difficult for the reader to understand through the medium of pen and ink the peculiar magnetic and dominant quality which the hero's iron will is said to impart to his personality. The heroine is not a very sympathetic figure either. But the fact remains, as stated above, that the vigour of the book carries the reader along, and in spite of its weaknesses and mistakes makes it more attractive reading than many works possessed of much greater polish.
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