Part 38 (1/2)
To found a great Empire in the East was one of the designs of Napoleon Bonaparte, and he might possibly have carried it out, had not certain events happened, which are related in this story. Amongst these were the Battle of the Nile, and the discovery of Napoleon's plans of campaign, in each of which incidents the hero, Mr. Thomas Nunn, Mids.h.i.+pman, was concerned. He was captured and taken to Paris, and it was here that the plans of campaign fell into his hands; what he did with them forms the material of an exciting story.
_Daily News_.--”It is a magnificent story, with not an error of phrase or thought in it.... This book is not only relatively good, but absolutely so.”
The Lost Column
A Story of the Boxer Rebellion.
Ill.u.s.trated in Colour by CYRUS CUNEO. With Map. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6s.
At the outbreak of the great Boxer Rebellion in China, Gerald Wood, the hero of this story, was living with his mother and brother at Milton Towers, just outside Tientsin. When the storm broke and Tientsin was cut off from the rest of the world, the occupants of Milton Towers made a gallant defence, but were compelled by force of numbers to retire into the town. Then Gerald determined to go in quest of the relief column under Admiral Seymour. He carried his life in his hands, and on more than one occasion came within an ace of losing it; but he managed to reach his goal in safety, and was warmly commended by the Admiral on his achievement. The author has found opportunity in this record of stirring events for some excellent characterisation, and, among others, the matter-of-fact James, Mr. w.a.n.g, and Mr. Mids.h.i.+pman t.i.te will be found diverting in the extreme.
_Outlook_.--”An excellent piece of craftsmans.h.i.+p.”
_Ladies' Field_.--”All the sketches of Chinese character are excellent, and we read the book with delight from the first page to the last.”
By WILLIAM J. MARX
For the Admiral.
Ill.u.s.trated. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 6s.
The brave Huguenot Admiral Coligny is one of the heroes of French history. Edmond le Blanc, the son of a Huguenot gentleman, undertakes to convey a secret letter of warning to Coligny, and the adventures he meets with on the way lead to his accepting service in the Huguenot army. He shares in the hard fighting that took place in the neighbourhood of La Roch.e.l.le, does excellent work in scouting for the Admiral, and is everywhere that danger calls. The story won the 100 prize offered by the Bookman for the best story for boys.
_Academy_.--”It is much the best book of its kind sent in for review this season, and stands head and shoulders above its rivals.”
By DESMOND c.o.kE
The School Across the Road
Ill.u.s.trated in Colour by H. M. BROCK. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5s.
The incidents of this story arise out of the uniting of two schools--”Warner's” and ”Corunna”--under the name of ”Winton,” a name which the head master fondly hopes will become known far and wide as a great seat of learning. Unfortunately for the head master's ambition, however, the two sets of boys--hitherto rivals and enemies, now schoolfellows--do not take kindly to one another. Warner's men of might are discredited in the new school; Henderson, lately head boy, finds himself a mere n.o.body; while the inoffensive Dove is exalted and made prefect. The feud drags on until the rival factions have an opportunity of uniting against a common enemy. Then, in the enthusiasm aroused by the overthrow of a neighbouring agricultural college, the bitterness between themselves dies away, and the future of Winton is a.s.sured.
_Sheffield Daily Telegraph_.--”Its literary style is above the average and the various characters are thoroughly well drawn.”
The Bending of a Twig
Ill.u.s.trated in Colour by H. M. BROCK. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5s.
When ”The Bending of a Twig” was first published it was hailed by competent critics as the finest school story that had appeared since ”Tom Brown.” Then, however, it was purely a story about boys; now Mr.