A Captive of the Corsairs, by John Finneraore (T. Nelson
and Sons, Os.), takes us back to the sixteenth century. The story begins with a spirited fight between the Half Moon' and some Barbary rovers. The slave market, the experiences of bondage, efforts after freedom, and other incidents follow, till we reach Malta and the defence made by the Knights of St. John against the Turk. It is a brisk story, from which the young reader may get entertainment and instruction. —In the Tyrant's Grip, by M. S. Comrie (John F. Shaw and Co., 5s.), is a tale of Piedmont and the days of persecution. " Thibaut the Natural" is the success of the book, a picture with no little skill.—War on the World's Roof. By Dr. Gordon Stables, R.N. (Same publishers. 5s.)—Dr. Gordon Stables is always up-to-date, and always ready, after the manner of his profession, to go wherever duty calls him. This time it is Tibet to which the call takes him. The reader will find unfamiliar scenes painted by the familiar hand. —Grit and Pluck, by W. Chas. Metcalfe (S.P.C.K., 3s. 6d.), is a tale of sea life. The captain disappears in the first chapter, and the hero assumes command. There are hints of mutiny ; a bottle with a message from the sea is picked up ; other incidents follow ; a little love-story is woven into the plot ; and things wok out, of course, as they should.—King by Combat, by Fred Whishaw (Cassell and Co., 3s. 6d.), Among the —421*- n I. Mountains, by David Ker (Blackie and Son, 3s. 6d.), and Hunting the Skipper, by George Manville Fenn (S.P.C.K., 5s.), are three tales of adventure which come recommended to many readers by the names of the writers, as well known as any can be in this province of fiction, more than they can be by any notice of ours. Mr. Whishaw lays the scene of his tale in South Africa, and plunges into his subject without delay, for on p. 5 the twin heroes find themselves at Cape Town. They go up the country till they reach the land of the Bantus. Their adventurous career is complicated by the family mystery of a companion. We do not feel qualified to pronounce on the verisimili- tude of its details, but can say that it does not lack excitement. Mr. Ker takes us further afield than even South Africa, if distance is to be measured by facility of communication. His hero is "cast away in Sumatra," and he prefaces his tale by assuring us that "all the adventures in the story are taken from life, and that most of them occurred to himself." The time, we should say, is supposed to be nearly a quarter of a century ago, the great eruption of 1883 occupying a prominent place in the climax of the story. Mr. Penn's tale relates how H.M.S. • Sea-Fowl' fares in her cruise on the West Coast of Africa. What with white slave-traders who create a demand, and black potentates who furnish the corresponding supply, Mr. Fenn introduces us to some very disreputable people, who are the best of counterfoils to his English characters. Mr. Fenn, as our readers know, has a quite unusual power of making himself at home anywhere and enabling his readers to do the same.—Captain Brereton, yet another well-known provider for young readers, gives us With. Roberts to Candahar (BlaCtie and Son, 6s.) The story opens in Kabul at the time of the attack on the Bala Hisser, and is continued on the historical lines as the hero is an aide-de-camp to General Roberts. Of course there is an underplot of private interest.
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