5 DECEMBER 1908, Page 11

Rough - Riders of the Pampas. By Captain F. S. Brereton. (Blackie

and Son. 5s.)—No one can deny that Captain Brereton has set about his task conscientiously. The life of an estancia on the Indian frontier is faithfully mapped out for us, and all through the narrative the ranchero, Mr. Blunt, is giving advice as much to the youthful readers of the story as to the hero himself. Now all this goes down very well; but boys do not like too much of it. The episode on the Perim& is lengthy ; but for the rest, the feeling of space, the reality and vigour of the Gauchos, and the stern simplicity of the ranching life are brought home to us. For boys it will have many charms.