4 DECEMBER 1897, Page 9

Soldiers of the Queen. By Harold Avery. (Nelson and Sons.)—

This "Story of the Dash to Khartoum" is a skilful combination of varied interests. The campaigning is well told, and the private fortunes of the two heroes, one of them a reckless lad who gets into trouble at school and enlists, are mingled with it in a way that makes it more effective. The villain is, perhaps, too much of a villain ; but the background has, we suppose, to have an extra shade of black to throw up the figures in which the reader is to be interested.