Young Nemesis. By F. T. Bullen. (J. Nisbet and Co.
as.)—Mr. Bullen sets out with a purpose,—that of dispelling the cloud of romance which in meat boys' minds clings to the pirate. Through- , out the story of the El Vengador ' he returns again and again to this theme, and pours out the vials of his wrath on the pirates, buccaneers, filibusters, or whatever we may choose to call them. Steve Wilson and his crew, after a terrible fight with a Caribbean pirate which leaves the young fellow bereaved of father, mother, and sisters, bind themselves to live for one end, the annihilation of the black flag. How they succeed is told to the accompani- ment of much interesting matter, and that atmosphere of the ocean which Mr. Bullen summons to his aid with such ease. The story is written for boys ; but notwithstanding its highly melo- • dramatic finish, older readers will enjoy it, for the charm of the sea, the earnestness of the writer, the vivid touches of description, the impressive clearness with which the author brings home to us the life of Jack two hundred years ago, carry one along. We must forgive the too frequent denunciations and other redundancies for the sake of those young readers who have far too few of these wholesome adventures, and also for the striking picture of sea-life which such a master-band alone can give us. One is glad that the stern temper of Steve is changed at the last,—a much more likely happening, by the by, than the change of his hair from chestnut to raven. Mr. Bullen must excuse this little pleasantry. It is a book for boys, and be knows how to entertain them if any one does.—The Strange Adventures of a Young Sailor, by J. A. Higginson (R.T.S., ls. ad.), takes us round Cape Horn to lagoons and pearls and slavers, and through many exciting vicissitudes. Events crowd on each other with rapidity, and the setting, it must be allowed, is most picturesque. There is not much literary skill shown in telling the story, but the interest is sustained, and the imaginative boy will find enough to satisfy him in the succession of disasters and triumphs.—Prom Slum to Quarterdeck, by Gordon Stables, M.D., R.N. (same publishers, 3s. ad.), comes with a good recom- mendation. Dr. Gordon Stables never forgets to give us plenty of variety, and he keeps his boys young as long as he can. Johnnie, the hero, is of mysterious birth, and we are introduced to him as a promising street-arab who does his best to hold the home together. The advoeatus diaboli is the gin-bottle. He breaks away, goes on the tramp, and eventually joins the ' Conway.' His adventures on the road are entertaining. As the story proceeds a mysterious danger from a hidden and relentless enemy threatens him ; but the ex-prize-fighter, one Piggie Green, a really well-drawn character, sets to work to baffle that enemy, and the tale ends happily. The variety of scenes, their unexpectedness, and the humour of many of them, always make our author's stories most readable ; and Johnnie is a very real boy, as all boys who are lucky enough to read his adventures will readily admit.
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