CURRENT LITERATURE.
GIFT-BOOKS.
The White Man's Post. By Grant Allen. (Hatchards.)—Mr. Allen's new story, he tells us, was written in deference to the wishes of his son, who requested him to write a tale without a moral. To this son, therefore, our thanks and those of Mr. Allen's admirers are due, not because the tale has no moral, but because it is a book which will afford us some very pleasant reading. A young Englishman and his brother are sent out to make scientific observations on the volcano Manua Loa, in Hawaii. By chance they make the acquaintance of an old Hawaiian chief and his charming niece. They are invited to stay in his house, and, as it is peculiarly well situated for examining the mountain, do not hesitate to accept this hospitality. How the old chief turns out to be a fanatical worshipper of Pe16, the goddess of the volcano, the accident which Mr. Hesselgrave meets with, his rescue by Kea, and in turn her terrible danger and escape, are set forth in graphic and picturesque language. Nothing could be more thrilling than the account of Frank Hesselgrave's journey across the gulf of burning lava as he hung by the swaying, bending bamboo-cane. Mr. Allen has set himself to write a boy's story, and he has done it very well. The incidents are exciting without being wildly improbable. Perhaps we ought here to make an exception of Frank's return over the boiling gulf. How he managed this we cannot understand, nor, indeed, does Mr. Allen seem quite clear on the subject. Still, it is manifest that he had to be got back somehow; so perhaps we ought not to be too critical as to the way in which it was done. The book is plenti- fully illustrated. On the whole, the drawings are not good, though some of them show a certain rough vigour. One advantage, however, they have,—that is, of being done by some- body who has read the book. Mr. Allen's volume should make a very popular Christmas present.
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