HOME!
"You are a nice fellow, ain't you, Edgar, to give us all this trouble,"
Rupert said, as he held him at arm's-length and gazed at him in the
light of the fire that Yussuf had lighted.
"I see now that I made an awful ass of myself," Edgar said; "but I think
you would have done the same if you had been in my place, Rupert, and
had heard what I heard."
"I have no doubt I should," Rupert agreed; "it must have been an awful
thing to hear. Still you must have seen by the advertisements that
father did not believe the woman's story."
"I did not see the advertisements," Edgar said. "I would not look at a
paper, because I thought he would advertise for me to come back, and I
felt I could not do so, and it would have been harder to keep away if I
had seen them. You told me they were all well at home."
This was the first question he had asked after he had mounted Rupert's
camel.
"Quite well when I last heard. I wrote and told them all about you."
"Then the sergeant was found, and did not die?"
"He died the first day after we found him," Rupert said gravely. "He was
insensible when we discovered him; and I should have known nothing about
him if they hadn't found two letters upon him, one to me and one to
father, saying that his wife's story was a lie, and that he could swear
that neither of them could in any way identify either of us from the
other. He recovered consciousness before he died, and signed in the
presence of witnesses a deposition to the same effect. So you saw me at
Korti, Edgar, and would not make yourself known? I would not have
believed it of you."
"Well, you see, Rupert, I did not know at the time that the sergeant was
who he was, and still believed the woman's story to be true. Besides, I
had gone my own way, and did not mean to see any of you again until I
had got on and could do without assistance. It seemed to me to be like
asking for help, and after all that I had had under false pretences I
would have rather died than do that."
"But you see it wasn't under false pretences, Edgar, and you had as much
right to consider yourself father's son as I had. You must have known
that from the sergeant afterwards."
"Yes, I did learn that," Edgar allowed, "but I think that made me even
more disinclined than before to show myself; it would have looked as if
I had come back only to put in a claim."
"You are the most pig-headed fellow I ever saw, Edgar. However, I hope
you have got out of all that feeling now."
"Quite, Rupert; I am quite ready to go back with you and beg their
pardon at home for all the trouble I have given them. And to think that
you have run all this awful risk to find me!"
"Stuff and nonsense, Edgar! When I found that you had been carried away
as a slave, as a matter of course I determined to get you out as soon as
possible, just as you would have done had I been caught by them; but I
could have done nothing if it hadn't been for this Arab I am travelling
with. Of course he will be well paid; but still men are often tempted to
be unfaithful however well they are paid;" and then he went on to tell
Edgar of the arrangement that had been made with the sheik. Edgar in
return gave him a short sketch of his life since they had parted at
Cheltenham, and told him of the promises he had made to El Bakhat if he
would take him down to one of the Red Sea ports.
"I suppose they are discussing the matter together," he said, glancing
at the two Arabs, who were deep in conversation on the other side of the
fire. "Well, sheik, what plan have you determined upon?"
"We both think that it will be impossible for us to travel north either
to Egypt, or to Berber and thence to Suakim. They will be on the watch
for us everywhere. Our best plan will be to make for Massowah."
"Well, sheik, you have heard that Ben Ibyn has agreed to deliver us at
one of the ports for a handsome reward. He knows that Englishmen's words
can be relied upon, and that there is no fear of his not getting the
amount promised him. My brother and I agree to give you an equal sum to
that which he will receive there."
"He has not told me the sum," El Bakhat said.
"Tell him the terms, Ben Ibyn," Rupert put in. "Not of course those you
have already received for your expenses, but the sum that is to be paid
you when you arrive at a port."
The sheik repeated the terms to El Bakhat, who at once expressed himself
as perfectly satisfied with them.
"The English are rich and generous," he said. "El Bakhat will do his
best to take them where they wish to go."
"Are you thinking of travelling with all this train?" Rupert asked Ben
Ibyn.
"No, there is no occasion to do so. I have friends at a village on the
Nile, and there my followers and their camels will remain, and El
Bakhat's wife and child will remain with them also. We four will then
travel on alone, taking with us Yussuf to cook for us and look after the
camels. We shall separate from the others at once, as it will be much
safer to travel in two small parties. There will be no fear as to their
safety, as they will take my regular permit to trade, and no one will
connect them in any way with El Bakhat. You and your brother will ride
the heiries. I have a half-bred camel that will carry me well, although
it will not compare in speed with yours. El Bakhat's camel is also a
good one. If we are pursued, we have agreed that our best plan will be
to turn off and find a hiding-place, and for you to push on alone. On
those camels you may defy pursuit. If pushed they will travel a hundred
and fifty miles a day. When you get to Massowah you will wait until we
join you there. We are content to trust to your word. Still we hope that
we may keep together; for although your brother now speaks Arabic so
well that he could pass as a native in casual conversation, it is better
that we should be together, in which case it will be we who will do the
talking."
"Have you two heiries?" Edgar asked Rupert.
"They are not quite full bred. It is very rare to meet with them, and
the price is extremely high; but these are nearly full bred, and can
swing along as fast as a horse can trot, and keep it up for twelve hours
at a stretch."
The march was resumed at midnight. The two sheiks rode ahead, Edgar and
Rupert followed on the heiries, while Yussuf was mounted on one of the
spare camels, and rode with the other Arab in the rear. The two brothers
talked by turns, and both were surprised when the first streak of
daylight appeared. The party now separated, the sheik's wife and child
taking their seats on one of the camels. She took a warm farewell of
Edgar.
"Amina will never forget the young white man who has lived in her
tents," she said. "He is brave in war, and is a wise counsellor; he will
be a great man among his own people."
"And I shall never forget you," Edgar replied, "and your kindness to the
white slave. When the sheik returns from Massowah he shall bring with
him tokens of my remembrance."
As soon as the party had separated the sheiks put their camels to their
best speed. Yussuf had been taken up by Edgar and rode behind him, the
heiries carrying the double weight with ease. At sunset they halted.
"We are now," El Bakhat said to Edgar, "beyond the reach of pursuit. We
may be stopped and arrested by others, but those from El-Obeid will
never see the tails of our camels."
"I wish," Edgar said as they were riding along the next morning, "that
you could get rid of that wig and your dye for five minutes, Rupert, so
that I could see what you really look like. You are such an awful object
with that bush of hair that I do not seem to recognize you at all. It is
different with me. I am only brown, while you are a sort of dirty black,
and when this cloth round my head is off you really see me as I am."
"We should not have known each other by our figures. It is nearly three
years since you left Cheltenham, and of course we have both widened out
a lot since then. You have widened more than I have, but I have grown
most."
"Yes, you are quite two inches taller than I am, Rupert. What are
you--six feet?"
"About half an inch under."
"Ah! then you are just the two inches taller. I am forty, chest
measurement."
"I am not more than thirty-seven, Edgar."
"Ah! I expect you will be forty before you have done, Rupert; you see
neither of us is anything like his full width yet. I have had harder
work than you have."
"Ah! Edgar, if we could both play in the house team now it would make a
difference, wouldn't it? You remember how Skinner was always lamenting
our want of weight."
"I don't think," Edgar said with a laugh, "that he has gained much in
weight. He was about our size before, but he looked to me quite a little
chap when I saw him on the march."
"He is tough," Rupert said; "he is like whip-cord all over; he is a
capital fellow, not a bit changed. Easton has turned out first-rate; he
was awfully good to me after you went away, and took no end of pains to
cheer me up, had me down to his place in the holidays, and was a real
friend. He is a big fellow now, and in another two or three years will
make a splendid man. They will be delighted when we both turn up again.
I don't think either of them thought, when they said good-bye to me,
that I should ever get back. They thought the language would floor me, I
think. You have got on wonderfully that way. I thought I had picked it
up pretty quickly, but you jaw away as if you had been years at it."
"I have been more with them, Rupert; besides, I had picked up a little
in the year I was at Cairo. You see I had nearly four months start of
you, and in the life I led among them of course I had a lot more
occasion to talk than you have had, always on camel back and only
talking in the encampment at night. El Bakhat says that in a casual
conversation now no one would notice that I was not a native. So if we
do get into any mess and have to ride for it by ourselves, we shall have
no difficulty in making our way across the country; but I do not see
much chance of that. If we should fall in with the Mahdists your sheik
can give his name and appear to be the head of the party, and as there
is nothing against him I don't see why we should have any trouble."
"I daresay we shall fall in with some Mahdists," Rupert said. "I got up
the maps thoroughly before I started, and specially studied the routes
leading to the coast. I fancy the line we shall travel will take us down
by Kassala. The Mahdists were besieging it, but I don't know whether it
has fallen or not. The safest route would certainly be to go through
Abyssinia, but the Arabs wouldn't like to travel that way if they could
help it. There have been troubles for years between Abyssinia and the
Soudan, and it is by no means certain what sort of treatment we should
meet if we got there. Massowah is certainly the best place to strike
for. Suakim would have been the best place in some respects, because
there are lots of English there and we should have no difficulty in
getting money to pay the sheiks; but after all it is only a question of
a week or two's delay at the most. I have letters from my father
authorizing me to draw upon him for any amount, and if we cannot get it
at Massowah we shall only have to send up to the officer in command at
Suakim; he would cash a draft out of the pay-chest; or if he could not
do it that way, would get some merchant there to do it."
They no longer hurried, but made moderate marches, stopping only at
small villages. There was no difficulty in obtaining food and shelter,
as Rupert's conductor had brought on with him a sufficient store of
merchandise to pay their way down to the coast. On these occasions Edgar
and Rupert kept in the background looking after the camels, while Yussuf
waited upon the sheiks, and afterwards cooked a meal for the two
Englishmen. He did most of the talking with the poorer villagers,
gossiped with them about the state of the country, the chance of peace
being re-established, and retailed all sorts of wonderful stories of the
doings of the Mahdists.
Both branches of the Nile were crossed in their journey, but no incident
of any kind occurred until they had passed the eastern arm. They were
now getting into a more dangerous country. Bodies of the Mahdi's troops
going to and from Kassala, which had, they learned, at last surrendered,
were encountered, and questions were asked as to where they were going
and what was the object of their journey.
Upon these occasions Ben Ibyn acted as spokesman and represented that
they had friends among the Hadendowah tribesmen, and wished to learn
whether any trade could be opened with the coast. When within a day's
march of Kassala they met a number of camels laden with spoil from that
town on their way to Khartoum, accompanied by a number of foot soldiers
and ten or twelve horsemen. Riding twenty or thirty yards behind the
sheiks Edgar saw one of the horsemen look earnestly at El Bakhat, and
then spur forward to speak to the others who were a short distance
ahead.
"That fellow has recognized El Bakhat!" he exclaimed; "ride on, Rupert!"
They both shook the halters and the heiries broke into a trot.
"Ride, sheiks!" Edgar exclaimed as he came up to the others; "one of the
horsemen has recognized El Bakhat."
A minute or two later they heard a shout behind them, but paid no
attention.
"We have got four or five hundred yards start," Rupert said, looking
back, "but the horsemen will overtake us; they can go faster than the
camels for a burst. Ride, sheik," he said; "push on to the utmost. If we
can get a mile away from the footmen before they come up to us we can
thrash the horsemen."
The start they had obtained while the man who had recognized El Bakhat
was explaining to the others who he was and how much his capture was
desired at Khartoum, was invaluable to the fugitives, and the horsemen
started in a body, shouting and yelling and firing their guns. The
bullets whistled harmlessly round the fugitives.
"Make for that clump of trees on rising ground," Edgar said; "then
spring off the camels and fight them on foot. What arms have you,
Rupert?"
"I have two revolvers besides this rifle. You take one of them; we shall
beat them off easily enough, they are only about two to one."
When they reached the trees they were but a hundred yards ahead and
less than a mile from the caravan, which had halted when the horsemen
commenced the pursuit. They leapt from their camels.
"Do you hold their bridles, Yussuf," Edgar said; "we will beat them
off," and steadying his rifle against the trunk of a tree he fired at
the nearest horseman, who fell instantly from the saddle.
Rupert's rifle cracked a moment later, and the two sheiks added their
fire. Had the horsemen been coming up in a close body they would have
gained the wood, for the leader was but fifty yards away when Edgar
fired; but they were scattered, and the leaders being shot down the
others wheeled their horses and galloped back towards the caravan at
full speed.
"Now we will be off again," Rupert said, and in a minute they had
mounted and continued their flight.
"There is no fear of the footmen overtaking us," Ben Ibyn remarked. "Our
camels are not like yours, but they can trot at a good pace for forty
miles. It is fortunate we had them, for they would soon have been up to
them had we only had common camels. Of course we must strike off
straight for Massowah now. The danger is not over; some of the horsemen
will bear the news to Kassala and a troop will be sent out in pursuit of
us. It is well that we have journeyed quietly and that the beasts are in
good condition."
Hour after hour passed. The camels kept on with unswerving gait until
long after nightfall.
"My beast smells water," Ben Ibyn said as his camel, after waving his
head backwards and forwards, suddenly quickened its pace.
Another quarter of an hour they stopped at a small pool in what during
the rainy season was the bed of a river, and here they halted. The
camels having drunk their fill were given an ample allowance of corn
from the saddle-bags, and were then picketed close at hand, while
Yussuf prepared a meal for their masters.
"What is the country like that we have to traverse?" Edgar asked.
"By to-morrow night," Ben Ibyn said, "we shall have reached the
mountains. We are on very high land now, and have a great descent to
make to reach the coast. We must inquire the way to the pass by which
the road from Kassala descends to Massowah. If we strike it without
failure we shall be safe; but if we miss our way, and the horsemen from
Kassala get there first, we shall be in a bad position. They will have
heard of our arms and strength, and are sure to have too strong a force
for us to attack. If we fail to find the road at once, our best plan
would be to turn and travel north until we reach a road going down to
Suakim."
"Would that one of us had travelled here before!" El Bakhat said. "If we
could but have continued our journey to-night we should be safe. Upon
the desert one can travel by the stars, but the ground is getting far
too broken to cross at night; we should only weary our camels in vain."
"How far is it to the gorge you speak of, El Bakhat?"
"I know not for certain. Those who travel the road have told me that it
is three or four days' journey with laden camels from Kassala. Our
camels can easily do three days' march in one, and if we have the good
fortune to strike the road near the mouth of the pass we may pass
through it before dark to-morrow; but by that time they may be there
from Kassala."
"Well, I suppose we must take our chances," Rupert said.
He and Edgar soon lay down and were fast asleep, but the two Arabs
talked together for a long time before they followed their example. At
daybreak the party were on their feet.
"We talked it over last night," Ben Ibyn said; "and we both think that
it were best not to proceed. The horsemen would have reached the town
with the news three hours after noon, and had they sent off at once
horsemen and fast camelmen down the road to Massowah, we think that they
would be at the pass before we could possibly reach it. Had we known the
country and could have travelled all night, we should have been there
long before them. As it is, the risk would be too great. We are already
some distance north of the Massowah road, and it will not be so many
days longer a journey to Suakim than to Massowah. Osman Digma is lying
at Handoub and Tamai, so we cannot come down by the Berber road; but
there are passes by which we can descend to the low country near Tokar.
Once down there we can cross from the foot of the hills to the sea by
night, and then follow the coast until we arrive at Suakim."
"I think that is the best plan, sheik," Edgar said. "A few days will
make no difference, and it would be as well to avoid all risks."
Accordingly, on mounting, the camels' heads were turned to the
north-east. Yussuf rode behind Rupert and Edgar by turns, so as to
divide the labour between the two heiries. A few villages were passed,
but the inhabitants fled into their houses or into the fields on seeing
the approach of the party, the arrival of strangers meaning extortion
and demands for tribute. So they journeyed for several days, until one
afternoon they came to a large village, which was evidently inhabited.
They alighted and knocked at the door of the principal house. No answer
was at first returned, but on El Bakhat shouting that he would break
down the door if it was not opened, bolts were heard to unfasten. The
door opened, and an old man presented himself.
"Why did you not reply to our knocking?" El Bakhat asked angrily. "Is
this your hospitality to strangers?"
"My lord must pardon me," he said submissively; "but it was but last
week that a party of the Mahdi's soldiers came along here and stripped
the village of all it possessed, and drove off its bullocks and sheep.
Save our grain, we have nought that we can call our own."
"We do not belong to the Mahdi," Ben Ibyn said, "but are peaceful
travellers. We desire only to fill our bags with grain for the animals,
for which we will pay you the full value. For ourselves we need nothing,
although, if you have peradventure a kid or a sheep left among you we
will gladly purchase it."
"Enter, my lord," the old man replied briskly, evidently much relieved
at the announcement; "all that the village still possesses is at your
service."
He gave an order, and a boy brought out a basket of grain, which he
emptied before the camels, while the two Arabs, Edgar, and Rupert
entered the house. Ten minutes later a villager brought in a
freshly-killed kid, which Yussuf, after lighting a fire in the
court-yard, proceeded to cut up and cook. In the meantime the Arabs had
entered into a conversation with the peasant as to the routes down to
the sea. They learned that so far they had been coming in the right
direction, and that some thirty miles farther they would come upon a
track leading down to Tokar.
"You must look well for it," he said; "it is never greatly traversed,
and since the troubles all trade has ceased, and you may well cross the
track without noticing it."
"Have you any in the village who know the track?" Edgar asked.
"There are several here who have been down to Tokar, my lord."
"We will give ten yards of good cloth to one who will go and set us on
the road. We will take him behind one of our camels, and as we shall
start at daybreak he can be back here before nightfall. I suppose when
we once find the track it will not be difficult to follow it."
"I can doubtless find a guide," the peasant said; "he can give you
instructions as to the path, or he could go with you, if you choose,
still further, to show you the way. I will go and find you such a man."
An active-looking young native presently arrived, and said that he was
willing to be their guide to the point where the track left the high
lands and entered the gorges leading down towards the sea. It was, he
said, four days camels' march beyond the point where they would strike
the track, and he would accompany them this distance for forty yards of
cotton cloth. The bargain was struck at once, and the following morning
they started, the guide riding behind Edgar.
As there was no occasion for haste, and the camels might be required to
exert their utmost speed when they reached the low country, the journey
was performed by three easy stages, the distances being about forty
miles each day. It was well that they had a guide with them, for the
track was in most places entirely obliterated.
"You cannot miss your way now," the native said at their last
halting-place by some shallow wells. "This depression leads straight
down to the pass. It is two days' march hence to the lower plains. When
the valley at last opens on them you will be about ten miles west of
Tokar."
The next morning the guide started on his return journey. The cloth had
been given to him before starting, and he now carried a few pounds of
grain and a small bag full of dried dates for his five days' journey
back to his village.
The journey down the gorges was an arduous one. The path had been swept
away by the last season's rains, and in some places where the valley
narrowed to a gorge but a few yards wide, with the rocks rising sheer up
hundreds of feet on either side, the bottom was filled with large
blocks of stone brought down by the floods, whose highest level could be
seen forty or fifty feet above them on the rocks. Occasionally it was
necessary to build a sloping platform with small boulders of stones to
enable the camels to get over the vast blocks that filled the space
between the walls.
It took them three days of arduous labour; but the valley at last opened
out, and they saw a broad expanse of country stretching before them. No
one had either met or passed them on the way down; but here in the lower
valley there were several flocks of sheep and goats watched over by Arab
boys. These, at the sight of strangers, hastily collected their animals
and drove them up the hillside, but at a shout from Ben Ibyn, saying
that they were friends and would do them no harm, two of them presently
came down.
On hearing that the travellers intended to camp for the night they led
the way to the wells, and for three yards of cotton killed and brought
in a sheep. Presently the rest of the lads came down and squatted near
the fire that Yussuf had kindled, and after the party had dined were
rejoiced by the present of some wheaten cakes and a portion of the
cooked meat. They now became very communicative. They belonged to the
Hadendowah tribe. There were three or four hundred of the dervishes at
Tokar. Osman Digma had in all four or five thousand men at Handoub, and
was soon going to drive the Kaffirs into the sea. Many of their tribe
were with him, but others were disheartened at the long delay to carry
his promise into effect. They had lost, too, a great many of their best
fighting men in the battles with the Kaffirs, but no doubt when Osman
Digma announced that the favourable time had arrived, all would again
join him in order to have their share of the plunder of Suakim.
The next day they stopped at the wells, telling the boys that the
camels were sorely wearied by their journey down the gorge, and that
they needed a day's rest. In the evening as soon as the meal was over
they mounted their camels, much to the surprise of the native boys, and
started. Edgar could judge of the general position, for though he had
not been as far as Tokar he could tell pretty well the line they should
take to come down upon Trinkitat. As soon as they were fairly out of the
valley the camels were put to their full speed, and in four hours the
sea shining in the bright moonlight lay before them. Crossing a shallow
lagoon they were upon the sandy beach.
The pace of the camels was now slackened, as it was useless to arrive at
Suakim before daybreak, as they would have been liable to be shot by the
sentries in the forts if they approached in the darkness. When day broke
Edgar and Rupert gave a shout of joy, for three or four miles away could
be seen the masts of shipping. Again the camels broke into a trot, and
in half an hour they approached the forts raised to defend the town on
the land side from the attacks by Osman Digma's followers. No questions
were asked them, for natives belonging to friendly tribes frequently
entered or left the town.
As they crossed the ground between the forts and the town they saw a
party of marines marching out to relieve those who had occupied the fort
at night. They reined in their camels, and Rupert addressed the officer
marching at the head of the party.
"Can you tell me, sir, if Lieutenant Skinner is at Suakim at present?"
The officer was astounded at being thus addressed in pure English by a
wild-looking native, and the men following him were no less astonished.
"Is it possible," the officer exclaimed, "that you are Mr. Clinton?"
"That is my name," Rupert replied.
The officer advanced and grasped his hand warmly. "I am glad indeed to
see you," he said; "Skinner is my subaltern, and has often spoken to me
of what he considered your hopeless journey to try to find your brother,
and said that if you did get through it alive you were as likely as not
to turn up here. I congratulate you indeed. Have you been successful?"
and he looked doubtfully at Rupert's companions.
"Yes, thank God, I have succeeded. This is my brother Edgar."
The officer shook hands warmly with Edgar, and even the men who had
heard what was said raised a shout of welcome.
"I forgot; Skinner is in the rear," the officer said; and raising his
voice shouted his name.
Skinner came running up. He had been wondering what the halt was for.
Edgar and Rupert had dismounted by this time and ran forward to meet
him. He stopped in surprise and then recognized Rupert, whom he had
already seen in his present disguise.
"Clinton!" he exclaimed with a joyous shout; "is it really you? Thank
God, you have got back again, and--and--"
"And this is Edgar," Rupert put in.
For a minute or two the three stood shaking each other's hands, too
excited and joyous to speak, while the soldiers cheered lustily. The
captain in command came up.
"Look here, Skinner; it would be too bad to take you away from your
friends now, so I will take it upon myself to give you leave off duty. I
will get Thomson to stay out until to-morrow morning in your place. He
won't mind when I tell him why, and you can take his turn on duty on
shore next time."
Talking excitedly together they entered the town, the Arabs following on
their camels and Yussuf leading the two heiries.
"The first thing to do," Skinner said, "is to get you rigged out
decently. I suppose it will be some time before you can get rid of your
dye, but at any rate you can get dressed like Christians; and you can
get rid of that fearful wig, Rupert. I will send off a boat to my ship
with a note, and they will soon send you on shore a couple of suits of
clothes. Mine would be of no use; you could not get into them. This is
the only hotel in the place."
"First of all we must see about these Arabs being made comfortable.
Where can they put up their camels?"
"Oh! that will be all right," Skinner said; "one of the fellows here
will take them under his charge."
Skinner entered and came out with a servant.
"You can put your camels in the court-yard here, El Bakhat," Edgar said
after speaking to the men. "Yussuf will look after them. You had better
find a lodging for yourselves. You will be more at home there than you
would here. Get everything you want; you will have no difficulty in
finding everything in the Arab quarter. Skinner, lend me a sovereign,
will you? We have been living on barter for a long time, but they will
want money here."
"This is worth five dollars," he said as he handed the money to El
Bakhat; "but, ah! I forgot, Ben Ibyn knows about the value of English
money. If you will come here at noon I may be able to tell you something
about the money."
They then entered the hotel with Skinner.
"Get breakfast, the best you can get," Skinner ordered; "and show me to
a room where there is plenty of water and towels. These are Englishmen,
though you would not think so from their appearance."
The young fellows enjoyed a thorough wash, and Rupert got rid of his
wig, but they had to attire themselves in their former garments for
breakfast. After existing for months upon native fare the breakfast was
a luxury indeed. By the time they had finished, the messenger Skinner
sent off returned with two suits of clothes sent ashore by the officers
of his ship, and having attired themselves in these they went with
Skinner to the political officer. When he understood who they were he
received them with much warmth.
"I have had letters from Captain Clinton," he said, "respecting you;
saying that it was possible that you might turn up here, and requesting
me to assist you in getting any bills you might draw on him cashed. I
will go with you to the principal merchant here. No doubt he will do it,
but if not I can manage the affair with one of the ships' paymasters."
The merchant, however, was perfectly willing to honour their draft upon
their father for a thousand pounds upon the statement of the officer
that he would himself guarantee its payment, and he told them that his
servants should bring the money in silver to the hotel. Four hundred
pounds was the amount that Ben Ibyn had been promised on delivering
Rupert in safety at one of the ports, and an equal sum was to be given
to El Bakhat. This left them two hundred pounds for getting to England,
for Edgar had learned that his regiment had a month previously sailed
for India, and he considered that under the circumstances he was
perfectly justified in reporting himself at the depot at home.
The sheiks on their arrival at the hotel received with great
satisfaction the bags of money containing the stipulated amount. To
these were added a brace of revolvers each, being the two Rupert had
carried and two they had purchased in Suakim, together with ten boxes of
ammunition. Edgar also gave to El Bakhat a set of jewellery and several
silk scarves for Amina.
"Now, sheik," he said, "I should like to purchase the freedom of Yussuf.
What do you value him at?"
"I will give him to you," the sheik said. "You have treated me well and
honourably."
"No, I will not have that, sheik; he is your property, and is a very
useful slave. I will give you two hundred dollars for him."
"It is well," El Bakhat said; "he is yours."
"Now," Rupert said, "there are the two heiries; they are yours by right,
Ben Ibyn, but I would fain give one to El Bakhat. I will give you three
hundred dollars to forego your claim to it. I know the beast is worth
more; but if you possess one of them it will suffice for your needs, and
you will oblige me if you will part with the other."
"I can refuse my lord nothing," Ben Ibyn said, "and the possession of
two such heiries might well draw envy and enmity upon me. I will accept
his offer."
"Then the other heirie is yours, El Bakhat," Rupert said, "as a special
present from me for the kindness you have shown my brother. What do you
both mean to do now?"
"We have agreed to journey up the coast together and then to travel
across the mountains to Assouan, and there buy camels and goods, or we
may buy them here if we see bargains to suit us. Then we shall turn
south. I shall go on alone to Khartoum; I know many of the Mahdi's
officers, and shall by presents to them obtain a pardon for El Bakhat,
and permission for him to return to his tribe. Money will do as much
among the Mahdi's people as elsewhere."
"We shall see you again to-morrow, sheiks. A steamer sails in the
afternoon for Suez, and we shall go in her. Come here to say good-bye to
us in the morning."
When the sheiks had left Yussuf was called in, and Edgar told him that
he had purchased his freedom from El Bakhat. The negro threw himself on
his knees in an ecstasy of delight and poured out his thanks.
"Now, what would you like to do, Yussuf?" Edgar went on when the negro
had quieted down. "I can recommend you here to some merchant as a
faithful man whom he can trust, or if you would like to set up a shop
here I will give you two hundred dollars with which to trade. Or I can
take you up with us to Suez and give you strong letters of
recommendation with which you can obtain employment there."
"No, my lord," Yussuf cried, "none of these things. I would go with you
and be your servant; I will never leave you."
"But I don't want a servant, Yussuf," Edgar said. "As I have told you, I
am a soldier, and soldiers do not have servants."
"Oh, that is nonsense!" Rupert put in. "You are not going on as a
private soldier. You know you need not reckon upon that, Edgar. You like
the fellow, and there is no doubt he would make you a faithful servant;
and anyhow they could find something to do for him at home."
Edgar pointed out to Yussuf that the life would be strange to him, the
climate altogether different to that to which he was accustomed, and
that he would find no one who could speak his language. But Yussuf was
unmoved, and entreated so earnestly to be taken that Edgar gave in,
saying that after all, if he repented afterwards, he could be sent back
to Egypt.
Just as this was settled a messenger entered with a telegram from
Captain Clinton in answer to that they had despatched before they had
sat down to breakfast announcing their safe arrival. It contained simply
the words, "Thank God! Come home at once."
They went off to dinner with Skinner on board ship, and the story of
their adventures excited immense interest among the officers. Skinner
returned with them on shore, and remained with them until the steamer
left in the afternoon. Yussuf, who had been rigged out in white
trousers and jacket, a checked shirt, and straw hat, accompanying them.
The two sheiks saw them off, and stood looking after them with grave
regret until the steamer was far from land. At Suez Edgar and Rupert
provided themselves with a stock of linen and clothing; two days later
they took passage to Brindisi in a P. and O. steamer, and travelled
rapidly across Europe. Their colour excited much surprise among the
passengers on board the steamer, but as they had no wish to keep on
telling their story they kept themselves apart, and made no
acquaintances during the short voyage. Yussuf was astounded at
everything he saw: the ship and her machinery, the trains, the fertile
country through which they travelled, the frequent villages, and great
towns. There was no stay in London. They drove across from Charing Cross
to Paddington, and went down by the first train. A telegram had been
despatched from Dover, and a carriage was at the station to meet them,
and the servant handed Rupert a note. It contained a few words from his
father, saying that he had not come to meet them, as he thought it
better that they should all meet together at home. It was Edgar who
received the first greeting from father, mother, and sister, while
Rupert stood by, well content that his brother should on this occasion
come first. It was little over a year since he had said good-bye to
them, while it was more than three since Edgar had seen them, and his
own greeting, though delayed for a moment, was no less warm than that of
Edgar.
"Father and mother," Edgar began as soon as they turned again from
Rupert, "I want to say that I feel how wrong I was--"
"Then don't say it," Captain Clinton broke in. "We won't talk about that
time at all. You suffered, and we have all suffered; but good has come
out of it. Thank God the matter is settled now for ever, and we know
there is nothing more to be found out about it, and that there is no
fear of our ever having to look at one or other of you in a different
light to that with which we regard you, as our two sons, of both of whom
we have every reason to be proud. There now, let us talk of other
things. You have both gone through wonderful adventures, which we are
burning to hear about."
"You have changed a great deal, Edgar," Mrs. Clinton said. "Of course we
have seen Rupert comparatively lately; but I think that you have changed
more than he has from what you both were three years ago. You look older
than he does, and your figure is more set."
"He has gone through so much more," Rupert said; "he has been doing
man's work for three years. I have only had a year and a half of it."
"You need not be in a hurry to look old, Rupert," Captain Clinton
laughed; "that will come soon enough, and you have widened out a good
deal in this last year. You had got very weedy, and I am glad to see
that you are filling up.
"I have some news for you, Edgar. I saw Lord Wolseley on his return to
England, and he spoke very kindly of you both, and when I got your
telegram from Suakim I wrote to him again and received a very warm
letter of congratulation from him in reply. He told me that he had
received a most favourable report of you from your colonel, who said
that your conduct had been most exemplary since you had entered the
regiment, and that as you had been recommended for the Victoria Cross he
had intended to recommend you for a commission as soon as you had served
a qualifying time as a sergeant. But Lord Wolseley said that he thought
it would be a great pity for you to lose four or five years' seniority
by waiting to get your commission from the ranks, and that he had that
morning spoken to the Duke of Cambridge about you, and that the latter
had put your name down for a Queen's Cadetship, so that if you could
pass the mere qualifying examination you could have a commission at
once. There will be an examination in two months' time, and if you go up
to a crammer and work hard you will be able to brush up your school work
and get through; if not, of course you can go in again six months later.
I am afraid you will hardly get ready in time for the first."
"I don't know, father," Rupert said; while Edgar expressed his lively
satisfaction. "Edgar speaks Arabic like a native, and if he takes that
up as a subject he is sure to get full marks for it, and that will help
him tremendously. Of course he would have no chance of getting through
if he had to go in for the competition; but something like half the
number of marks are enough for the qualifying examination."
"Well, we mustn't be too sanguine," Captain Clinton said; "and eight
months' quiet study won't hurt him after campaigning in Egypt for two
years. By the way, Edgar, I paid in the money for you to buy out, and
sent in an application in your name. These things take some little time
before they are carried out, but no doubt we shall soon hear. But in the
meantime you had better write at once to the officer commanding your
depôt, saying that you have returned home, and asking for a month's
leave of absence. You are sure to get your discharge before that is
over."
Edgar remained at home for a week, spending much of his time, however,
over his old school-books. Then he went up to town and worked at a
crammer's until the examination came off, when, thanks in no small
degree to the number of marks he obtained for his Arabic, he just
managed to get the number necessary to qualify him. To his great
satisfaction he was at once gazetted to a regiment as if he had been
promoted from the ranks, instead of having to go through the course at
Sandhurst, and thus gained several months' seniority. Three months'
leave was granted him, and at the end of that time he joined his
regiment, which was stationed at Malta.
No question as to which of the Clintons is the legitimate son of the
captain and his wife has ever again troubled them. Edgar and Rupert know
that they are equally dear to those at home, and all are happy in the
knowledge that nothing henceforth can break the closeness of their tie,
and that it can never be known which is the lawful heir of the estates.
What is much more important to them both, neither of them can say which
has the first claim on the love and affection of Captain and Mrs.
Clinton, and of their sister.
THE END.
BLACKIE & SON'S BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
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BY G. A. HENTY.
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BY GEORGE MACDONALD.
A Rough Shaking. By GEORGE MACDONALD. With 12 page Illustrations by W.
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The Princess and the Goblin. By GEORGE MACDONALD. With 33 Illustrations.
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BY J. K. H. DENNY.
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"The story is well written; it is not goody-goody, although its moral is
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NEW EDITION OF THE UNIVERSE.
The Universe: Or The Infinitely Great and the Infinitely Little. A
Sketch of Contrasts in Creation, and Marvels revealed and explained by
Natural Science. By F. A. POUCHET, M.D. With 272 Engravings on wood, of
which 55 are full-page size, and a Coloured Frontispiece. Eleventh
Edition, medium 8vo, cloth elegant, gilt edges, 7_s._ 6_d._; also
morocco antique, 16_s._
"We can honestly commend Professor Pouchet's book, which is admirably,
as it is copiously illustrated."--_The Times_.
"Scarcely any book in French or in English is so likely to stimulate in
the young an interest in the physical phenomena."--_Fortnightly Review_.
BY ROBERT LEIGHTON.
The Wreck of "The Golden Fleece:" The Story of a North Sea Fisher-boy.
By ROBERT LEIGHTON. With 8 page Illustrations by FRANK BRANGWYN. Crown
8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5_s._
"This story should add considerably to Mr. Leighton's high reputation.
Excellent in every respect, it contains every variety of incident. The
plot is very cleverly devised, and the types of the North Sea sailors
are capital."--_The Times_.
"If Mr. Leighton writes many more boys' books of equal merit with _The
Wreck of the Golden Fleece_, more than one hitherto popular story-teller
will have to look to his laurels."--_University Correspondent_.
"The whole story is told simply and movingly, and will both interest and
instruct all young readers. Of the illustrations, it is enough to say
that they are by Mr. Frank Brangwyn, the best modern painter of
sailors."--_The Academy_.
"It recalls the freshness and brightness of his _Pilots of Pomona_....
It is a capital story. The characters are marked and lifelike, and it is
full of incident and adventure."--_Standard_.
The Pilots of Pomona: A Story of the Orkney Islands. By ROBERT LEIGHTON.
With 8 page Illustrations by JOHN LEIGHTON, and a Map. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, olivine edges, 5_s._
"A story which is quite as good in its way as _Treasure Island_, and is
full of adventure of a stirring yet most natural kind. Although it is
primarily a boys' book, it is a real godsend to the elderly reader who
likes something fresh--something touched with the romance and magic of
youth."--_Glasgow Evening Times_.
"His pictures of Orcadian life and nature are charming."--_Saturday
Review_.
"Few of this season's books have given us so much pleasure. It is a
charming story of home-life, and takes a place among the best books for
young people."--_Practical Teacher_.
The Thirsty Sword: A Story of the Norse Invasion of Scotland (1262-63).
By ROBERT LEIGHTON. With 8 page Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE, and a
Map. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5_s._
"This is one of the most fascinating stories for boys that it has ever
been our pleasure to read. From first to last the interest never flags.
Boys will worship Kenric, who is a hero in every sense of the
word."--_Schoolmaster_.
"It gives a lively idea of the wild life of the Western Islands in those
rough days, reminding one not seldom of Sir Walter Scott's _Lord of the
Isles_. It is full of incident and sensational adventure."--_The
Guardian_.
BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.
"Mr. Fenn stands in the foremost rank of writers in this
department."--_Daily News_.
"No one can find his way to the hearts of lads more readily than Mr.
Fenn."--_Nottingham Guardian_.
Quicksilver: Or, A Boy with no Skid to his Wheel. By GEORGE MANVILLE
FENN. With 10 page Illustrations by FRANK DADD. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, olivine edges, 6_s._
"_Quicksilver_ is little short of an inspiration. In it that prince of
story-writers for boys--George Manville Fenn--has surpassed himself. It
is an ideal book for a boy's library."--_Practical Teacher_.
"The story is capitally told, it abounds in graphic and well-described
scenes, and it has an excellent and manly tone throughout."--_The
Guardian_.
Dick O' the Fens: A Romance of the Great East Swamp. By G. MANVILLE
FENN. With 12 page Illustrations by FRANK DADD. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, olivine edges, 6_s._
"We conscientiously believe that boys will find it capital reading. It
is full of incident and mystery, and the mystery is kept up to the last
moment. It is rich in effective local colouring; and it has a historical
interest."--_Times_.
"Deserves to be heartily and unreservedly praised as regards plot,
incidents, and spirit. It is its author's masterpiece as
yet."--_Spectator_.
Devon Boys: A Tale of the North Shore. By G. MANVILLE FENN. With 12 page
Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges,
6_s._
"An admirable story, as remarkable for the individuality of its young
heroes as for the excellent descriptions of coast scenery and life in
North Devon. It is one of the best books we have seen this
season."--_Athenæum_.
The Golden Magnet: A Tale of the Land of the Incas. By G. MANVILLE FENN.
Illustrated by 12 page Pictures by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, olivine edges, 6_s._
"There could be no more welcome present for a boy. There is not a dull
page in the book, and many will be read with breathless interest. 'The
Golden Magnet' is, of course, the same one that attracted Raleigh and
the heroes of _Westward Ho!_"--_Journal of Education_.
In the King's Name: Or, The Cruise of the _Kestrel_. By G. MANVILLE
FENN. Illustrated by 12 page Pictures by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, olivine edges, 6_s._
"A capital boys' story, full of incident and adventure, and told in the
lively style in which Mr. Fenn is such an adept."--_Globe_.
"The best of all Mr. Fenn's productions in this field. It has the great
quality of always 'moving on,' adventure following adventure in constant
succession."--_Daily News_.
Nat the Naturalist: A Boy's Adventures in the Eastern Seas. By G.
MANVILLE FENN. With 8 page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine
edges, 5_s._
"This sort of book encourages independence of character, develops
resource, and teaches a boy to keep his eyes open."--_Saturday Review_.
Bunyip Land: The Story of a Wild Journey in New Guinea. By G. MANVILLE
FENN. With 6 page Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, 4_s._
"Mr. Fenn deserves the thanks of everybody for _Bunyip Land_, and we may
venture to promise that a quiet week may be reckoned on whilst the
youngsters have such fascinating literature provided for their evenings'
amusement."--_Spectator_.
Brownsmith's Boy: A Romance in a Garden. By G. MANVILLE FENN. With 6
page Illustrations. New Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"Mr. Fenn's books are among the best, if not altogether the best, of the
stories for boys. Mr. Fenn is at his best in _Brownsmith's
Boy_."--_Pictorial World_.
See also under heading of Blackie's 3/ Series for other Books by G.
MANVILLE FENN.
Grettir the Outlaw: A Story of Iceland. By S. BARING-GOULD. With 10 page
Illustrations by M. ZENO DIEMER, and a Coloured Map. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, olivine edges, 6_s._
"Is the boys' book of its year. That is, of course, as much as to say
that it will do for men grown as well as juniors. It is told in simple,
straightforward English, as all stories should be, and it has a
freshness, a freedom, a sense of sun and wind and the open air, which
make it irresistible."--_National Observer_.
Two Thousand Years Ago: Or, The Adventures of a Roman Boy. By Professor
A. J. CHURCH. With 12 page Illustrations by ADRIEN MARIE. Crown 8vo,
cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6_s._
"Adventures well worth the telling. The book is extremely entertaining
as well as useful, and there is a wonderful freshness in the Roman
scenes and characters."--_The Times_.
The Seven Wise Scholars. By ASCOTT R. HOPE. With nearly 100
Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Cloth elegant, 5_s._
"As full of fun as a volume of _Punch_; with illustrations, more
laughter-provoking than most we have seen since Leech died."--_Sheffield
Independent_.
Stories of Old Renown: Tales of Knights and Heroes. By ASCOTT R. HOPE.
With 100 Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._
6_d._
"A really fascinating book worthy of its telling title. There is, we
venture to say, not a dull page in the book, not a story which will not
bear a second reading."--_Guardian_.
BY G. NORWAY.
A True Cornish Maid. By G. NORWAY. With 6 page Illustrations by J.
FINNEMORE. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"There is some excellent reading.... Mrs. Norway brings before the eyes
of her readers the good Cornish folk, their speech, their manners, and
their ways. _A True Cornish Maid_ deserves to be popular."--_Athenæum_.
"The incident is plentiful and exciting; the characters are drawn with
no common skill. The contrast between the two girls--the rough,
free-spoken Phoebe, and the refined, retiring Honor--is
excellent."--_The Spectator_.
"Among girls' books the success of the year has fallen, we think, to
Mrs. Norway, whose _True Cornish Maid_ is really an admirable piece of
work.... The book is full of vivid and accurate local colour; it
contains, too, some very clever character studies."--_Review of
Reviews_.
Hussein the Hostage: Or, A Boy's Adventures in Persia. By G. NORWAY.
With 8 page Illustrations by JOHN SCHÖNBERG. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant,
olivine edges, 5_s._
"_Hussein the Hostage_ is full of originality and vigour. The characters
are lifelike, there is plenty of stirring incident, the interest is
sustained throughout, and every boy will enjoy following the fortunes of
the hero."--_Journal of Education_.
The Loss of John Humble: What Led to It, and what Came of It. By G.
NORWAY. With 8 page Illustrations by JOHN SCHÖNBERG. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, olivine edges, 5_s._
"This story will place the author at once in the front rank. It is full
of life and adventure. He is equally at home in his descriptions of life
in Sweden and in the more stirring passages of wreck and disaster, and
the interest of the story is sustained without a break from first to
last."--_Standard_.
BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD.
The Pirate Island: A Story of the South Pacific. By HARRY COLLINGWOOD.
With 8 page Pictures by C. J. STANILAND and J. R. WELLS. Crown 8vo,
cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5_s._
"A capital story of the sea; indeed in our opinion the author is
superior in some respects as a marine novelist to the better known Mr.
Clark Russell."--_The Times_.
The Congo Rovers: A Story of the Slave Squadron. By HARRY COLLINGWOOD.
With 8 page Illustrations by J. SCHÖNBERG. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant,
olivine edges, 5_s._
"No better sea story has lately been written than the _Congo Rovers_. It
is as original as any boy could desire."--_Morning Post_.
The Log of the "Flying Fish:" A Story of Aerial and Submarine Peril and
Adventure. By HARRY COLLINGWOOD. With 6 page Illustrations by GORDON
BROWNE. _New and cheaper Edition_. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"The _Flying Fish_ actually surpasses all Jules Verne's creations; with
incredible speed she flies through the air, skims over the surface of
the water, and darts along the ocean bed. We strongly recommend our
school-boy friends to possess themselves of her log."--_Athenæum_.
BY DR. GORDON STABLES.
Westward With Columbus. By GORDON STABLES, M.D., C.M. With 8 page
Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges,
5_s._
"This is quite one of the best books for boys that we have seen this
autumn. It is the duty of every British and American lad to know the
story of Christopher Columbus."--_School Guardian_.
"Our author treats his subject in a dignified, historical fashion which
well becomes it, and we must place Westward with Columbus among those
books that all boys ought to read."--_The Spectator_.
"Will be greatly in request as a school prize. The tone is healthy, the
characters are lifelike, and the narrative of the great discoverer's
adventures through his chequered career is replete with incidents and
sensational episodes."--_Church Review_.
'Twixt School and College: A Tale of Self-reliance. By GORDON STABLES,
C.M., M.D., R.N. With 8 page Illustrations by V. PARKINSON. Crown 8vo,
cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5_s._
"One of the best of a prolific writer's books for boys, being full of
practical instructions as to keeping pets, from white mice upwards, and
inculcates in a way which a little recalls Miss Edgeworth's 'Frank' the
virtue of self-reliance, though the local colouring of the home of the
Aberdeenshire boy is a good deal more picturesque."--_Athenæum_.
BY FRANCES ARMSTRONG.
A Fair Claimant: Being a Story for Girls. By FRANCES ARMSTRONG. With 8
page Illustrations by GERTRUDE D. HAMMOND. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant,
olivine edges, 5_s._
"The story is a great success--one of the best tales for girls that we
have seen for some time."--_London Quarterly_.
"There is a fascination about this story.... The splendid character of
the heroine, together with the happy manner in which the interest is
sustained to the end, combine to make this one of the most acceptable
gift-books of the season."--_Church Review_.
"A story at once strong and sympathetic, a quality rightly esteemed at a
high value by girl readers."--_The Quiver_.
"As a gift-book for big girls _A Fair Claimant_ is among the best new
books of the kind. The story is interesting and natural, from first to
last."--_Westminster Gazette_.
BY ANNE BEALE.
The Heiress of Courtleroy. By ANNE BEALE. With 8 page Illustrations by
T. C. H. CASTLE. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5_s._
"We can speak highly of the grace with which Miss Beale relates how the
young 'Heiress of Courtleroy' had such good influence over her uncle as
to win him from his intensely selfish ways."--_Guardian_.
"In Le Roy we have perhaps the most striking and original creation that
Miss Beale has made. He interests us to the last."--_Spectator_.
BY KIRK MUNROE.
The White Conquerors of Mexico: A Tale of Toltec and Aztec. By KIRK
MUNROE. With 8 page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, olivine edges, 5_s._
"Mr. Munroe gives most vivid pictures of the religious and civil polity
of the Aztecs, and of everyday life, as he imagines it, in the streets
and market-places of the magnificent capital of Montezuma."--_The
Times_.
"There are, in truth, fine scenes in this narrative and stirring deeds;
heroism and self-sacrifice as well as cunning cruelty. The story runs
along the true lines of the ideal story for the young."--_Educational
Review_.
"The reader becomes carried away by conflicting emotions of wonder and
sympathy, and feels compelled to pursue the story, which he cannot lay
down. No present can be more acceptable than such a volume as this,
where courage, intrepidity, resource and devotion are so pleasantly
mingled. It is very fully illustrated with pictures worthy of the
book."--_The Schoolmaster_.
With the Sea Kings: A Story of the Days of Lord Nelson. By F. H. WINDER.
With 6 page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant,
4_s._
"A really good story, and boys will like it."--_The Spectator_.
"Just the book to put into a boy's hands. Every chapter contains
boardings, cuttings out, fighting pirates, escapes of thrilling
audacity, and captures by corsairs, sufficient to turn the quietest
boy's head. The story culminates in a vigorous account of the battle of
Trafalgar, as seen from the _Victory_. Happy boys!"--_The Academy_.
"Is brimming over with realistic adventure. There is 'derring-do' enough
here for half a dozen volumes, and there is just that spice of history
in the book which adds interest to a narrative."--_Daily Chronicle_.
BY F. FRANKFORT MOORE.
Highways and High Seas: Cyril Harley's Adventures on both. By F.
FRANKFORT MOORE. With 8 page Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. Crown 8vo,
cloth elegant, olivine edges, 5_s._
"This is one of the best stories Mr. Moore has written, perhaps the very
best. The exciting adventures among highwaymen and privateers are sure
to attract boys."--_Spectator_.
Under Hatches: Or, Ned Woodthorpe's Adventures. By F. FRANKFORT MOORE.
With 8 page Illustrations by A. FORESTIER. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant,
olivine edges, 5_s._
"The story as a story is one that will just suit boys all the world
over. The characters are well drawn and consistent; Patsy, the Irish
steward, will be found especially amusing."--_Schoolmaster_.
Giannetta: A Girl's Story of Herself. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. With 8 page
Illustrations by LOCKHART BOGLE. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine
edges, 5_s._
"Giannetta is a true heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as
all good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm of
humanity. One of the most attractive gift-books of the season."--_The
Academy_.
BY J. M. CALLWELL.
A Champion of the Faith: A Tale of Prince Hal and the Lollards. By J. M.
CALLWELL. With 6 page Illustrations by HERBERT J. DRAPER. Crown 8vo,
cloth elegant, 4_s._
"A capital specimen of a historical tale, and a well-told chapter in
English life and manners in the days of Henry of Bolingbroke and his
soldier-son."--_The Spectator_.
"Will not be less enjoyed than Mr. Henty's books. Sir John Oldcastle's
pathetic story, and the history of his brave young squire will make
every boy enjoy this lively story."--_London Quarterly_.
"The book is intensely interesting, exceedingly well written, and very
well illustrated.... The character of Lord Cobham, who suffered
martyrdom for the faith at the hands of his greatest friend, is
beautifully drawn."--_Winter's Weekly_.
BY ALICE CORKRAN.
Meg's Friend. By ALICE CORKRAN. With 6 page Illustrations by ROBERT
FOWLER. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"One of Miss Corkran's charming books for girls, narrated in that simple
and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the first
amongst writers for young people."--_The Spectator_.
Margery Merton's Girlhood. By ALICE CORKRAN. With 6 page Pictures by
GORDON BROWNE. Cr. 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"Another book for girls we can warmly commend. There is a delightful
piquancy in the experiences and trials of a young English girl who
studies painting in Paris."--_Saturday Review_.
Down the Snow Stairs: Or, From Good-night to Good-morning. By ALICE
CORKRAN. With 60 Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, olivine edges, 3_s._ 6_d._
"A fascinating wonder-book for children."--_Athenæum_.
"A gem of the first water, bearing upon every page the mark of genius.
It is indeed a Little Pilgrim's Progress."--_Christian Leader_.
Gold, Gold, in Cariboo: A Story of Adventure in British Columbia. By
CLIVE PHILLIPPS-WOLLEY. With 6 page Illustrations by G. C. HINDLEY.
Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"It would be difficult to say too much in favour of _Gold, Gold in
Cariboo_. We have seldom read a more exciting tale of wild mining
adventure in a singularly inaccessible country. There is a capital plot,
and the interest is sustained to the last page."--_The Times_.
"Adventure? there's enough of it here, in all conscience, and the greed
for gold is taken at its true worth from beginning to end. Boys who
learn from it that there are lots of things in this world worth having
besides gold, and even without gold, will have imbibed a lesson 'very
necessary for these times,' and will have had plenty of blood-thrilling
moments."--_Daily Chronicle_.
BY SARAH DOUDNEY.
Under False Colours: A Story from Two Girls' Lives. By SARAH DOUDNEY.
With 6 page Illustrations by G. G. KILBURNE. _New Edition_. Crown 8vo,
cloth elegant, 4_s._
"Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories--pure
in style, original in conception, and with skilfully wrought-out plots;
but we have seen nothing from her pen equal in dramatic energy to this
book."--_Christian Leader_.
BY ANNIE E. ARMSTRONG.
Three Bright Girls: A Story of Chance and Mischance. By ANNIE E.
ARMSTRONG. With 6 page Illustrations by W. PARKINSON. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"Among many good stories for girls this is undoubtedly one of the very
best. The three girls whose portraits are so admirably painted are girls
of earnest, practical, and business-like mood. Ever bright and cheerful,
they influence other lives, and at last they come out of their trials
and difficulties with honour to themselves and benefits to all about
them."--_Teachers' Aid_.
A Very Odd Girl: or, Life at the Gabled Farm. By ANNIE E. ARMSTRONG.
With 6 page Illustrations by S. T. DADD. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._
6_d._
"The book is one we can heartily recommend, for it is not only bright
and interesting, but also pure and healthy in tone and teaching."--_The
Lady_.
"The doings of the heroine at the Gabled Farm are amusing in the
extreme, and her escapades are always bringing her into trouble. Vera is
a fine character, however, and our girls will all be the better for
making her acquaintance."--_Teachers' Aid_.
BY EDGAR PICKERING.
An Old-Time Yarn: Wherein is set forth divers desperate mischances which
befell Anthony Ingram and his shipmates in the West Indies and Mexico
with Hawkins and Drake. By EDGAR PICKERING. Illustrated with 6 page
Pictures drawn by ALFRED PEARSE. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"And a very good yarn it is, with not a dull page from first to last.
There is a flavour of _Westward Ho!_ in this attractive
book."--_Educational Review_.
"An excellent story of adventure. Especially good is the description of
Mexico and of the dungeons of the Inquisition, while Don Diego Polo is a
delightful mixture of bravery and humour, and his rescue of the
unfortunate prisoners is told with great spirit. The book is thoroughly
to be recommended."--_Guardian_.
Silas Verney: A Tale of the Time of Charles II. By EDGAR PICKERING. With
6 page Illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._
6_d._
"Wonderful as the adventures of Silas are, it must be admitted that they
are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented. Altogether
this is an excellent story for boys."--_Saturday Review_.
BY C. J. HYNE.
The Captured Cruiser: or, Two Years from Land. By C. J. HYNE. With 6
page Illustrations by FRANK BRANGWYN. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._
6_d._
"It is altogether a capital story, well illustrated."--_Saturday
Review_.
"The two lads and the two skippers are admirably drawn. Mr. Hyne has now
secured a position in the first rank of writers of fiction for
boys."--_Spectator_.
Afloat at Last: A Sailor Boy's Log of his Life at Sea. By JOHN C.
HUTCHESON. With 6 page Illustrations by W. H. OVEREND. Crown 8vo, cloth
elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"As healthy and breezy a book as one could wish to put into the hands of
a boy."--_Academy_.
"A tale of seafaring life told with fire and enthusiasm, full of
spirited incident and well-drawn character."--_Observer_.
Picked Up at Sea: Or, The Gold Miners of Minturne Creek. By J. C.
HUTCHESON. With 6 page Pictures. Cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"The author's success with this book is so marked that it may well
encourage him to further efforts. The description of mining life in the
Far West is true and accurate."--_Standard_.
Sir Walter's Ward: A Tale of the Crusades. By WILLIAM EVERARD. With 6
page Illustrations by WALTER PAGET. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"This book will prove a very acceptable present either to boys or girls.
Both alike will take an interest in the career of Dodo, in spite of his
unheroic name, and follow him through his numerous and exciting
adventures."--_Academy_.
Brother and Sister: Or, The Trials of the Moore Family. By ELIZABETH J.
LYSAGHT. With 6 page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._
6_d._
"A pretty story, and well told. The plot is cleverly constructed, and
the moral is excellent."--_Athenæum_.
The Search for the Talisman: A Story of Labrador. By HENRY FRITH. With 6
page Illustrations by J. SCHÖNBERG. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._
6_d._
"Mr. Frith's volume will be among those most read and highest valued.
The adventures among seals, whales, and icebergs in Labrador will
delight many a young reader."--_Pall Mall Gazette_.
Reefer and Rifleman: A Tale of the Two Services. By J. PERCY-GROVES,
late 27th Inniskillings. With 6 page Illustrations by JOHN SCHÖNBERG.
Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"A good, old-fashioned, amphibious story of our fighting with the
Frenchmen in the beginning of our century, with a fair sprinkling of fun
and frolic."--_Times_.
BY CAROLINE AUSTIN.
Cousin Geoffrey and I. By CAROLINE AUSTIN. With 6 page Illustrations by
W. PARKINSON. Cr. 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"Miss Austin's story is bright, clever, and well developed."--_Saturday
Review_.
"A powerfully written and realistic story of girl life.... The tone of
the book is pure and good."--_Practical Teacher_.
Hugh Herbert's Inheritance. By CAROLINE AUSTIN. With 6 page
Illustrations by C. T. GARLAND. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"Will please by its simplicity, its tenderness, and its healthy
interesting motive. It is admirably written."--_Scotsman_.
Storied Holidays: A Cycle of Red-letter Days. By E. S. BROOKS. With 12
page Illustrations by HOWARD PYLE. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"It is a downright good book for a senior boy, and is eminently readable
from first to last."--_Schoolmaster_.
Chivalric Days: Stories of Courtesy and Courage in the Olden Times. By
E. S. BROOKS. With 20 Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE and other Artists.
Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"We have seldom come across a prettier collection of tales. These
charming stories of boys and girls of olden days are no mere fictitious
or imaginary sketches, but are real and actual records of their sayings
and doings."--_Literary World_.
Historic Boys: Their Endeavours, their Achievements, and their Times. By
E. S. BROOKS. With 12 page Illustrations by R. B. BIRCH and JOHN
SCHÖNBERG. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"A wholesome book, manly in tone, its character sketches enlivened by
brisk dialogue and high-class illustrations; altogether one that should
incite boys to further acquaintance with those rulers of men whose
careers are narrated. We advise teachers to put it on their list of
prizes."--_Knowledge_.
Dr. Jolliffe's Boys: A Tale of Weston School. By LEWIS HOUGH. With 6
page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"Young people who appreciate _Tom Brown's School-days_ will find this
story a worthy companion to that fascinating book. There is the same
manliness of tone, truthfulness of outline, avoidance of exaggeration
and caricature, and healthy morality as characterized the masterpiece of
Mr. Hughes."--_Newcastle Journal_.
The Bubbling Teapot. A Wonder Story. By Mrs. L. W. CHAMPNEY. With 12
page Pictures by WALTER SATTERLEE. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"Very literally a 'wonder story,' and a wild and fanciful one.
Nevertheless it is made realistic enough, and there is a good deal of
information to be gained from it. The steam from the magic teapot
bubbles up into a girl, and the little girl, when the fancy takes her,
can cry herself back into a teapot. Transformed and enchanted she makes
the tour of the globe."--_The Times_.
BY JENNETT HUMPHREYS.
Laugh and Learn: The Easiest Book of Nursery Lessons and Nursery Games.
By JENNETT HUMPHREYS. Profusely Illustrated. Square 8vo, cloth extra,
3_s._ 6_d._
"_Laugh and Learn_ instructs and amuses; it is the very book for a wet
day in the nursery, for besides solid instruction, admirably given, it
contains numberless games and contrivances, with useful and amusing
illustrations. The musical drill is remarkably good."--_Athenæum_.
"One of the best books of the kind imaginable, full of practical
teaching in word and picture, and helping the little ones pleasantly
along a right royal road to learning."--_Graphic_.
"Every mother of children should have _Laugh and Learn_, and go through
with them the excellent course it contains."--_Journal of Education_.
BY MARY C. ROWSELL.
Thorndyke Manor: A Tale of Jacobite Times. By MARY C. ROWSELL. With 6
page Illustrations by L. LESLIE BROOKE. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._
6_d._
"It is a good story, with plenty of 'go' in it."--_Times_.
"Miss Rowsell has never written a more attractive book than _Thorndyke
Manor_."--_Belfast News-Letter_.
Traitor or Patriot? A Tale of the Rye-House Plot. By MARY C. ROWSELL.
With 6 page Pictures by C. O. MURRAY and C. J. STANILAND, R.I. Crown
8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"Here the Rye-House Plot serves as the groundwork for a romantic love
episode, whose true characters are lifelike beings, not dry sticks as in
many historical tales."--_Graphic_.
Dora: Or, A Girl without a Home. By Mrs. R. H. READ. With 6 page
Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._ 6_d._
"It is no slight thing, in an age of rubbish, to get a story so pure and
healthy as this."--_The Academy_.
Life's Daily Ministry: A Story of Everyday Service for Others. By Mrs.
E. R. PITMAN. With 4 page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._
6_d._
"Shows exquisite touches of a master hand. She depicts in graphic
outline the characteristics of the beautiful and the good in
life."--_Christian Union_.
My Governess Life: Or, Earning my Living. By Mrs. E. R. PITMAN. With 4
page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._ 6_d._
"Full of sound teaching and bright examples of character."--_S.S.
Chronicle_.
BLACKIE'S NEW THREE-SHILLING SERIES.
Beautifully Illustrated and Handsomely Bound.
NEW VOLUMES.
Menhardoc: A Story of Cornish Nets and Mines. By G. MANVILLE FENN. With
6 page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND, R.I. _New Edition_. Crown 8vo,
cloth extra, 3_s._
"They are real living boys, with their virtues and faults. The Cornish
fishermen are drawn from life, they are racy of the soil, salt with the
sea-water, and they stand out from the pages in their jerseys and
sea-boots all sprinkled with silvery pilchard scales."--_Spectator_.
Yussuff the Guide: Or, The Mountain Bandits. A Story of Strange
Adventure in Asia Minor. By G. MANVILLE FENN. With 6 page Illustrations
by J. SCHÖNBERG. _New Edition_. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._
"This story is told with such real freshness and vigour that the reader
feels he is actually one of the party, sharing in the fun and facing the
dangers with them."--_Pall Mall Gazette_.
Robinson Crusoe. With 100 Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. _New Edition_.
Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._
"One of the best issues, if not absolutely the best, of Defoe's work
which has ever appeared."--_The Standard_.
Gulliver's Travels. With 100 Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. _New
Edition_. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._
"Mr. Gordon Browne is, to my thinking, incomparably the most artistic,
spirited, and brilliant of our illustrators of books for boys, and one
of the most humorous also, as his illustrations of 'Gulliver' amply
testify."--_Truth_.
Patience Wins: or, War in the Works. By GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. With 6
page Illustrations. Cr. 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._
"Mr. Fenn has never hit upon a happier plan than in writing this story
of Yorkshire factory life. The whole book is all aglow with life, the
scenes varying continually with kaleidoscopic rapidity."--_Pall Mall
Gazette_.
Mother Carey's Chicken: Her Voyage to the Unknown Isle. By G. MANVILLE
FENN. With 6 page Illustrations by A. FORESTIER. Crown 8vo, cloth extra,
3_s._
"Undoubtedly one of the best Mr. Fenn has written. The incidents are of
thrilling interest, while the characters are drawn with a care and
completeness rarely found in a boys' book. The illustrations are
exceptionally good."--_Literary World_.
The Missing Merchantman. By HARRY COLLINGWOOD. With 6 page Illustrations
by W. H. OVEREND. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._
"One of the author's best sea stories. The hero is as heroic as any boy
could desire, and the ending is extremely happy."--_British Weekly_.
The Rover's Secret: A Tale of the Pirate Cays and Lagoons of Cuba. By
HARRY COLLINGWOOD. With 6 page Illustrations by W. C. SYMONS. Crown 8vo,
cloth elegant, 3_s._
"_The Rover's Secret_ is by far the best sea story we have read for
years, and is certain to give unalloyed pleasure to boys. The
illustrations are fresh and vigorous."--_Saturday Review_.
The Wigwam and the War-path: Stories of the Red Indians. By ASCOTT R.
HOPE. With 6 page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._
"Is notably good. It gives a very vivid picture of life among the
Indians, which will delight the heart of many a
schoolboy."--_Spectator_.
Perseverance Island: or, The Robinson Crusoe of the 19th Century. By
DOUGLAS FRAZAR. With 6 page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 3_s._
"This is an interesting story, written with studied simplicity of style,
much in Defoe's vein of apparent sincerity and scrupulous veracity;
while for practical instruction it is even better than Robinson
Crusoe."--_Illustrated London News_.
Girl Neighbours: or, The Old Fashion and the New. By SARAH TYTLER. With
6 page Illustrations by C. T. GARLAND. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 3_s._
"One of the most effective and quietly humorous of Miss Sarah Tytler's
stories _Girl Neighbours_ is very healthy, very agreeable, and very well
written."--_The Spectator_.
BLACKIE'S HALF-CROWN SERIES.
Illustrated by eminent Artists. In crown 8vo, cloth elegant.
Nicola: The Career of a Girl Musician. By M. CORBET-SEYMOUR. Illustrated
by GERTRUDE D. HAMMOND.
"There is a great deal of quiet force and strength about the story, and
a kindly and good-hearted spirit pervading the whole which makes it
exceedingly pleasant reading. I can thoroughly and heartily recommend
_Nicola_ as a present for girls."--_Winter's Weekly_.
"The moral tone of the story is exceptionally high, and the book would
be a boon to a girl who has, or fancies she has, a career before
her."--_Practical Teacher_.
A Little Handful. By HARRIET J. SCRIPPS. Illustrated by L. LESLIE
BROOKE.
"A very charming picture of a bright, lovable, mischievous boy, who
hails from the New World. Every page will afford extreme pleasure and
amusement to all children, and those who love them."--_School Guardian_.
"He is a real type of a boy, a few of whom we have known, and do know,
who, under proper guidance, help to make a nation great."--_The
Schoolmaster_.
A Golden Age: A Story of Four Merry Children. By ISMAY THORN.
Illustrated by GORDON BROWNE. _New Edition_.
"Ismay Thorn has a genuine love for children.... _A Golden Age_ ought to
have a place of honour on the nursery shelf."--_The Athenæum_.
"This 'story of four merry children' is distinguished by its charming
realization of the quaintness and oddity and merriness of children, by
its romantic, almost sentimental, pathos, and by its crisp, fluent
style."--_The Academy_.
A Rough Road: or, How the Boy Made a Man of Himself. By Mrs. G. LINNÆUS
BANKS. Illustrated by ALFRED PEARSE.
"Mrs. Linnæus Banks has not written a better book than _A Rough
Road_."--_Spectator_.
"Told with much simple force and that charm which belongs to one who has
known herself what a rough road is, and how to traverse it."--_Winter's
Weekly_.
The Two Dorothys: A Tale for Girls. By Mrs. HERBERT MARTIN. Illustrated
by GORDON BROWNE.
"A book that will not only interest and please all girls, but will also,
from its pure but unostentatious teaching, stimulate and encourage to
better and higher things, youthful hopes, dreams, and ambitions."--_The
Lady_.
Penelope and the Others: A Story of Five Country Children. By AMY
WALTON. Illustrated by L. LESLIE BROOKE.
"This is a charming book for children. Miss Walton proves herself a
perfect adept in understanding of school-room joys and sorrows, and her
name ought to become a household word amongst our boys and
girls."--_Christian Leader_.
A Cruise in Cloudland. By HENRY FRITH.
"A thoroughly interesting story, especially the part dealing with the
siege of Plevna. There is an excellent sketch of General
Skobeloff."--_St. James's Gazette_.
Marian and Dorothy. By ANNIE E. ARMSTRONG.
"This is distinctively a book for girls. It contains a bright wholesome
story, with the useful morals of industry and forgiveness of injuries.
The book is decidedly to be commended."--_Academy_.
Stimson's Reef: A Tale of Adventure. By C. J. HYNE.
"Few stories come within hailing distance of _Stimson's Reef_ in the
matter of startling incidents and hairbreadth 'scapes. In these respects
it may almost vie with Mr. R. L. Stevenson's matchless _Treasure
Island_."--_Guardian_.
Gladys Anstruther. By LOUISA THOMPSON.
"It is a clever book, and some of the passages in the narrative are
novel and striking in the highest degree."--_Schoolmistress_.
The Secret of the Old House. By EVELYN EVERETT-GREEN.
"Tim, the little Jacobite who asks his grandmother if she can remember
Charles I., is a charming creation. So original a child as Tim must win
the hearts of all who read the pleasant tale."--_Academy_.
Hal Hungerford. By J. R. HUTCHINSON, B.A.
"There is no question whatever as to the spirited manner in which the
story is told; the death of the mate of the smuggler by the teeth of the
dog is especially effective. Altogether, Hal Hungerford is a distinct
literary success."--_Spectator_.
The Golden Weathercock. By JULIA GODDARD.
"A cleverly conceived quaint story, in which the golden cock on the
church spire is the recipient of enchanting stories of enchanted people
and places. Full of pretty and ingenious ideas, prettily and ingeniously
written."--_Saturday Review_.
White Lilac: Or, The Queen of the May. By AMY WALTON.
"Every here and there we are reminded of Mrs. Tulliver and Sister Pullet
in the quaint dialogue of the story.... Every rural parish ought to add
_White Lilac_ to its library."--_Academy_.
Miriam's Ambition. By EVELYN EVERETT-GREEN.
"Miss Green's children are real British boys and girls, not small men
and women. Babs is a charming little one."--_Liverpool Mercury_.
The Brig "Audacious." By ALAN COLE.
"Bright and vivacious in style, and fresh and wholesome as a breath of
sea air in tone."--_Court Journal_.
The Saucy May. By HENRY FRITH.
"Mr. Frith gives a new picture of life on the ocean wave which will be
acceptable to all young people."--_Sheffield Independent_.
Jasper's Conquest. By ELIZABETH J. LYSAGHT.
"One of the best boys' books of the season. It is full of stirring
adventure and startling episodes, and yet conveys a splendid moral
throughout."--_Schoolmaster_.
Little Lady Clare. By EVELYN EVERETT-GREEN.
"Certainly one of the prettiest, reminding us in its quaintness and
tender pathos of Mrs. Ewing's delightful tales. This is quite one of the
best stories Miss Green's clever pen has yet given us."--_Literary
World_.
The Eversley Secrets. By EVELYN EVERETT-GREEN.
"A clever and well-told story. Roy Eversley is a very touching picture
of high principle and unshrinking self-devotion in a good
purpose."--_Guardian_.
The Hermit Hunter of the Wilds. By G. STABLES, R.N.
"Pirates and pumas, mutiny and merriment, a castaway and a cat, furnish
the materials for a tale that will gladden the heart of many a bright
boy."--_Methodist Recorder_.
Sturdy and Strong. By G. A. HENTY.
"The history of a hero of everyday life, whose love of truth, clothing
of modesty, and innate pluck carry him, naturally, from poverty to
affluence. He stands as a good instance of chivalry in domestic
life."--_The Empire_.
Gutta Percha Willie, The Working Genius. By GEORGE MACDONALD.
"Had we space we would fain quote page after page. All we have room to
say is, get it for your boys and girls to read for
themselves."--_Practical Teacher_.
The War of the Axe: Or, Adventures in South Africa. By J. PERCY-GROVES.
"The story of their final escape from the Caffres is a marvellous bit of
writing.... The story is well and brilliantly told."--_Literary World_.
The Lads of Little Clayton. By R. STEAD.
"A capital book for boys. They will learn from its pages what true boy
courage is. They will learn further to avoid all that is petty and mean
if they read the tales aright. They may be read to a class with great
profit."--_Schoolmaster_.
Ten Boys who lived on the Road from Long Ago to Now. By JANE ANDREWS.
With 20 Illustrations.
"The idea of this book is a very happy one, and is admirably carried
out. We have followed the whole course of the work with exquisite
pleasure. Teachers should find it particularly interesting and
suggestive."--_Practical Teacher_.
A Waif of the Sea: Or, The Lost Found. By KATE WOOD.
"Written with tenderness and grace, the story will appeal to mothers who
have felt the pain of being parted from their children, as powerfully as
to the hearts and sympathies of younger readers."--_Morning Advertiser_.
Winnie's Secret: A Story of Faith and Patience. By KATE WOOD.
"One of the best story-books we have read. Girls will be charmed with
the tale, and delighted that everything turns out so
well."--_Schoolmaster_.
Miss Willowburn's Offer. By SARAH DOUDNEY.
"Patience Willowburn is one of Miss Doudney's best creations, and is the
one personality in the story which can be said to give it the character
of a book not for young ladies but for girls."--_Spectator_.
A Garland for Girls. By LOUISA M. ALCOTT.
"The _Garland_ will delight our girls, and show them how to make their
lives fragrant with good deeds."--_British Weekly_.
"These little tales are the beau ideal of girls' stories."--_Christian
World_.
Hetty Gray: Or, Nobody's Bairn. By ROSA MULHOLLAND.
"A charming story for young folks. Hetty is a delightful
creature--piquant, tender, and true--and her varying fortunes are
perfectly realistic."--WORLD.
Brothers in Arms: A Story of the Crusades. By F. BAYFORD HARRISON.
"Full of striking incident, is very fairly illustrated, and may safely
be chosen as sure to prove interesting to young people of both
sexes."--_Guardian_.
The Ball of Fortune: Or, Ned Somerset's Inheritance. By CHARLES PEARCE.
"A capital story for boys. It is simply and brightly written. There is
plenty of incident, and the interest is sustained throughout."--_Journal
of Education_.
Miss Fenwick's Failures: Or, "Peggy Pepper-Pot." By ESMÉ STUART.
"Esmé Stuart may be commended for producing a girl true to real life,
who will put no nonsense into young heads."--_Graphic_.
Gytha's Message: A Tale of Saxon England. By EMMA LESLIE.
"This is a charmingly told story. It is the sort of book that all girls
and some boys like, and can only get good from."--_Journal of
Education_.
Jack o' Lanthorn: A Tale of Adventure. By HENRY FRITH.
"The narrative is crushed full of stirring incident, and is sure to be a
prime favourite with our boys, who will be assisted by it in mastering a
sufficiently exciting chapter in the history of England."--_Christian
Leader_.
The Family Failing. By DARLEY DALE.
"At once an amusing and an interesting story, and a capital lesson on
the value of contentedness to young and old alike."--_Aberdeen Journal_.
My Mistress the Queen: A Tale of the 17th Century. By M. A. PAULL.
"The style is pure and graceful, the presentation of manners and
character has been well studied, and the story is full of
interest."--_Scotsman_.
The Stories of Wasa and Menzikoff: The Deliverer of Sweden, and the
Favourite of Czar Peter.
"Both are stories worth telling more than once, and it is a happy
thought to have put them side by side."--_Spectator_.
Stories of the Sea in Former Days.
"Next to an original sea-tale of sustained interest come well-sketched
collections of maritime peril and suffering which awaken the sympathies
by the realism of fact. _Stories of the Sea_ are a very good specimen of
the kind."--_The Times_.
Tales of Captivity and Exile.
"It would be difficult to place in the hands of young people a book
which combines interest and instruction in a higher
degree."--_Manchester Courier_.
Famous Discoveries by Sea and Land.
"Such a volume may providentially stir up some youths by the divine fire
kindled by these 'great of old' to lay open other lands."--_Perth
Advertiser_.
Stirring Events of History.
"The volume will fairly hold its place among those which make the
smaller ways of history pleasant and attractive."--_Guardian_.
Adventures in Field, Flood, and Forest.
"The editor has beyond all question succeeded admirably. The present
book cannot fail to be read with interest and advantage."--_Academy_.
BLACKIE'S TWO-SHILLING SERIES.
Illustrated by eminent Artists. In crown 8vo, cloth elegant.
_NEW VOLUMES._
Queen ff the Daffodils: A Story of High School Life. By LESLIE LAING.
Illustrated by W. PARKINSON.
Raff's Ranche: A Story of Adventure among Cowboys and Indians. By F. M.
HOLMES. Illustrated by PAUL HARDY.
An Unexpected Hero. By ELIZ. J. LYSAGHT.
"Among the very best of the series is, _An Unexpected Hero_. There is
abundance of pleasant incident and skilful character
delineation."--_Freeman's Jour_.
The Bushranger's Secret. By Mrs. HENRY CLARKE, M.A.
"One of the best stories we have had of the Australian bush, with a good
plot, an action always good, and rising into dramatic intensity at
times."--_Spectator_.
The White Squall. By JOHN C. HUTCHESON.
"This is a capital story. The descriptions of scenery and places, and
especially of the changes of calm and tempest, are lifelike and
vivid."--_Standard_.
The Wreck of the "Nancy Bell." By J. C. HUTCHESON.
"The narrative is full of excitement and interest; it cannot fail to
develop resource, and encourage independence and manliness of
character."--_Academy_.
The Lonely Pyramid. By J. H. YOXALL.
"It is full of wild surprises and marvels. The Pyramid alone is a
fascinating invention, and the 'lost oasis of the vision on the sand' is
even more delightful."--_Saturday Review_.
Bab: or, The Triumph of Unselfishness. By ISMAY THORN.
"_Bab_ is a capital story for children, who will be much amused by the
picture on the cover of the worthy doll Jocasta."--_Athenæum_.
Climbing the Hill, and other Stories. By ANNIE S. SWAN.
"Miss Annie Swan's children _are_ children, and not old people
masquerading in children's attire. This volume of tales is made up of
just the kind of incidents of which children love to read."--_Christian
Leader_.
Brave and True, and other Stories. By GREGSON GOW.
"This is one of those very few volumes which are adapted for reading
aloud to children in the nursery."--_Spectator_.
The Light Princess. By GEORGE MACDONALD.
"Graceful, fantastic, delicately didactic in its playfulness, this
volume is likely to give as much pleasure to the elder folk as to the
younger."--_Daily News_.
Nutbrown Roger and I. By J. H. YOXALL.
"The pictures of manners is perfect, the excitement, of the healthiest
kind, goes on increasing to the last. It is one of the very best and
most delightful story-books of the season."--_Tablet_.
Warner's Chase: Or, The Gentle Heart. By ANNIE S. SWAN.
"In Milly Warren, the heroine, who softens the hard heart of her rich
uncle, and thus unwittingly restores the family fortunes, we have a fine
ideal of real womanly goodness."--_Schoolmaster_.
Sam Silvan's Sacrifice. By JESSE COLMAN.
"There is a spirit of gentleness, kindliness, and tenderness manifest in
every page of this volume, which will make it an influence for
good."--_Christian Union_.
Insect Ways on Summer Days in Garden, Forest, Field, and Stream. By
JENNETT HUMPHREYS. With 70 Illustrations.
"This book will prove not only instructive but delightful to every child
whose mind is beginning to inquire and reflect upon the wonders of
nature. It is capitally illustrated and very tastefully
bound."--_Academy_.
Susan. By AMY WALTON.
"A clever little story, written with some humour. The authoress shows a
great deal of insight into children's feelings and motives."--_Pall Mall
Gazette_.
A Pair of Clogs. By AMY WALTON.
"Decidedly interesting, and unusually true to nature. For children
between nine and fourteen this book can be thoroughly
commended."--_Academy_.
The Hawthorns. By AMY WALTON.
"A remarkably vivid and clever study of child-life. At this species of
work Amy Walton has no superior."--_Christian Leader_.
Dorothy's Dilemma. By CAROLINE AUSTIN.
"An exceptionally well-told story, and will be warmly welcomed by
children. The little heroine, Dorothy, is a charming creation."--_Court
Journal_.
Marie's Home. By CAROLINE AUSTIN.
"An exquisitely told story. The heroine is as fine a type of girlhood as
one could wish to set before our little British damsels of
to-day."--_Christian Leader_.
A Warrior King. By J. EVELYN.
"The friendship formed between the African Prince and Adrian Englefield
will remind the reader of the old story of the 'wonderful love' which
existed long ago when Jonathan and David made a covenant."--_Dundee
Advertiser_.
Aboard the "Atalanta." By HENRY FRITH.
"The story is very interesting and the descriptions most graphic. We
doubt if any boy after reading it would be tempted to the great mistake
of running away from school under almost any pretext
whatever."--_Practical Teacher_.
The Penang Pirate. By JOHN C. HUTCHESON.
"A book which boys will thoroughly enjoy: rattling, adventurous, and
romantic, and the stories are thoroughly healthy in tone."--_Aberdeen
Journal_.
Teddy: The Story of a "Little Pickle." By JOHN C. HUTCHESON.
"He is an amusing little fellow with a rich fund of animal spirits, and
when at length he goes to sea with Uncle Jack he speedily sobers down
under the discipline of life."--_Saturday Review_.
A Rash Promise. By CECILIA SELBY LOWNDES.
"A carefully told story; and Meg Clifford is a delightful and natural
little girl."--_Spectator_.
Linda and the Boys. By CECILIA SELBY LOWNDES.
"The book is essentially a child's book, and will be heartily
appreciated by the young folk."--_The Academy_.
Swiss Stories for Children. From the German of MADAM JOHANNA SPYRI. By
LUCY WHEELOCK.
"Charming stories. They are rich in local colouring, and, what is
better, in genuine pathos."--_The Times_.
The Squire's Grandson: A Devonshire Story. By J. M. CALLWELL.
"The lessons of courage, filial affection, and devotion to duty on the
part of the young hero cannot fail to favourably impress all young
readers."--_Schoolmaster_.
Magna Charta Stories. Edited by ARTHUR GILMAN, A.M.
"A book of special excellence, which ought to be in the hands of all
boys."--_Educational News_.
The Wings of Courage; AND THE CLOUD-SPINNER. Translated from the French
of GEORGE SAND, by Mrs. CORKRAN.
"Mrs. Corkran has earned our gratitude by translating into readable
English these two charming little stories."--_Athenæum_.
Chirp and Chatter: Or, LESSONS FROM FIELD AND TREE. By ALICE BANKS. With
54 Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE.
"We see the humbling influence of love on the haughty harvest-mouse, we
are touched by the sensibility of the tender-hearted ant, and may profit
by the moral of 'the disobedient maggot.' The drawings are spirited and
funny."--_The Times_.
Four Little Mischiefs. By ROSA MULHOLLAND.
"Graphically written, and abounds in touches of genuine humour and
innocent fun."--_Freeman_.
"A charming bright story about real children."--_Watchman_.
New Light through Old Windows. By GREGSON GOW.
"The most delightfully-written little stories one can easily find in the
literature of the season. Well constructed and brightly told."--_Glasgow
Herald_.
Little Tottie, and Two Other Stories. By THOMAS ARCHER.
"We can warmly commend all three stories; the book is a most alluring
prize for the younger ones."--_Schoolmaster_.
Naughty Miss Bunny. By CLARA MULHOLLAND.
"This naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit
_Naughty Miss Bunny_ from their list of juvenile presents."--_Land and
Water_.
Adventures of Mrs. Wishing-to-be. By ALICE CORKRAN.
"Simply a charming book for little girls."--_Saturday Review_.
"Just in the style and spirit to win the hearts of children."--_Daily
News_.
The Joyous Story of Toto. By LAURA E. RICHARDS.
"A very delightful book for children, which deserves to find a place in
every nursery."--_Lady's Pictorial_.
Our Dolly: Her Words and Ways. By MRS. R. H. READ. 2_s._
Fairy Fancy: What she Heard and Saw. By MRS. READ. 2_s._
BLACKIE'S EIGHTEENPENNY SERIES.
With Illustrations. In crown 8vo, cloth elegant.
_NEW VOLUMES._
A Soldier's Son: The Story of a Boy who Succeeded. By ANNETTE LYSTER.
Mischief and Merry-making. By ISABELLA PEARSON.
Town Mice in the Country: A Story of Holiday Adventure. By M. E.
FRANCIS.
Phil and his Father. By ISMAY THORN.
Prim's Story. By L. E. TIDDEMAN.
Littlebourne Lock. By F. BAYFORD HARRISON.
Wild Meg and Wee Dickie. By MARY E. ROPES.
Grannie. By ELIZABETH J. LYSAGHT.
The Seed She Sowed. By EMMA LESLIE.
Unlucky: A Fragment of a Girl's Life. By CAROLINE AUSTIN.
Everybody's Business: or a Friend in Need. By ISMAY THORN.
Tales of Daring and Danger. By G. A. HENTY.
The Seven Golden Keys. By JAMES E. ARNOLD.
The Story of a Queen. By MARY C. ROWSELL.
Edwy: Or, Was he a Coward? By ANNETTE LYSTER.
The Battlefield Treasure. By F. BAYFORD HARRISON.
Joan's Adventures at the North Pole. By ALICE CORKRAN.
Filled with Gold. By J. PERRETT
Our General: A Story for Girls. By ELIZABETH J. LYSAGHT.
Aunt Hesba's Charge. By ELIZABETH J. LYSAGHT.
By Order of Queen Maude: A Story of Home Life. By LOUISA CROW.
The Late Miss Hollingford. By ROSA MULHOLLAND.
Our Frank. By AMY WALTON.
A Terrible Coward. By G. MANVILLE FENN.
Yarns on the Beach. By G. A. HENTY.
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Mr. Lipscombe's Apples. By JULIA GODDARD.
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Little Miss Masterful. By L. E. TIDDEMAN.
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Kitty Carroll. By L. E. TIDDEMAN.
A Joke for a Picnic. By W. L. ROOPER.
Cross Purposes, and The Shadows. By GEORGE MACDONALD.
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Daphne: A Story of Self-conquest. By E. O'BYRNE.
Lily and Rose in One. By CECILIA S. LOWNDES.
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Tom in a Tangle. By T. SPARROW.
Things will Take a Turn. By BEATRICE HARRADEN.
Max or Baby. By ISMAY THORN.
The Lost Thimble. By Mrs. MUSGRAVE.
Jack-a-Dandy. By E. J. LYSAGHT.
A Day of Adventures. By CHARLOTTE WYATT.
The Golden Plums. By FRANCIS CLARE.
The Queen of Squats. By ISABEL HORNIBROOK.
Shucks. By EMMA LESLIE.
Sylvia Brooke. By M. HARRIET M. CAPES.
The Little Cousin. By A. S. FENN.
In Cloudland. By Mrs. MUSGRAVE.
Jack and the Gypsies. By KATE WOOD.
Hans the Painter. By MARY C. ROWSELL.
Little Troublesome. By ISABEL HORNIBROOK.
My Lady May: and One Other Story. By HARRIET BOULTWOOD.
A Little Hero. By Mrs. MUSGRAVE.
Prince Jon's Pilgrimage. By JESSIE FLEMING.
Harold's Ambition: or, A Dream of Fame. By JENNIE PERRETT.
Sepperl the Drummer Boy. By MARY C. ROWSELL.
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A Blind Pupil. By ANNIE S. FENN.
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Fisherman Grim. By MARY C. ROWSELL.
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ELLA'S FALL.
PATTY'S WALK.
HONEST DOLLY.
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From over the Sea. By L. E. TIDDEMAN.
The Kitchen Cat. By AMY WALTON.
The Royal Eagle. By LOUISA THOMPSON.
Two Little Mice. By Mrs. GARLICK.
A Little Man of War. By L. E. TIDDEMAN.
Lady Daisy. By CAROLINE STEWART.
Dew. By H. MARY WILSON.
Chris's Old Violin. By J. LOCKHART.
Mischievous Jack. By A. CORKRAN.
The Twins. By L. E. TIDDEMAN.
Pet's Project. By CORA LANGTON.
The Chosen Treat. By C. WYATT.
Little Neighbours. By A. S. FENN.
Jim: A Story of Child Life. By CHRISTIAN BURKE.
Little Curiosity. By J. M. CALLWELL.
Sara the Wool-gatherer. By W. L. ROOPER.
Fairy Stories: told by PENELOPE.
A New Year's Tale. By M. A. CURRIE.
Little Mop. By Mrs. CHARLES BRAY.
The Tree Cake, and other Stories. By W. L. ROOPER.
Nurse Peggy, and Little Dog Trip.
Fanny's King. By DARLEY DALE.
Wild Marsh Marigolds. By D. DALE.
Kitty's Cousin. By HANNAH B. MACKENZIE.
Cleared at Last. By JULIA GODDARD.
Little Dolly Forbes. By ANNIE S. FENN.
A Year with Nellie. By A. S. FENN.
The Little Brown Bird.
The Maid of Domremy, and other Tales.
Little Eric: a Story of Honesty.
Uncle Ben the Whaler.
The Palace of Luxury.
The Charcoal Burner.
Willy Black: A Story of Doing Right.
The Horse and his Ways.
The Shoemaker's Present.
Lights to Walk by.
The Little Merchant.
Nicholina: A Story about an Iceberg.
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A Start in Life. By J. LOCKHART.
Happy Childhood. By AIMÉE DE VENOIX DAWSON.
Dorothy's Clock. By DO.
Toddy. By L. E. TIDDEMAN.
Stories about my Dolls. By FELICIA MELANCTHON.
Stories about my Cat Timothy.
Delia's Boots. By W. L. ROOPER.
Lost on the Rocks. By R. SCOTTER.
A Kitten's Adventures. By CAROLINE STEWART.
Climbing the Hill. By ANNIE S. SWAN.
A Year at Coverley. By ANNIE S. SWAN.
Phil Foster. By J. LOCKHART.
Papa's Birthday. By W. L. ROOPER.
The Charm Fairy. By PENELOPE.
Little Tales for Little Children. By M. A. CURRIE.
Worthy of Trust. By H. B. MACKENZIE.
Brave and True. By GREGSON GOW.
Johnnie Tupper's Temptation. DO.
Maudie and Bertie.
The Children and the Water-Lily. By JULIA GODDARD.
Poor Tom Olliver. By DO.
Fritz's Experiment. By LETITIA M'LINTOCK.
Lucy's Christmas-Box.
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End of Project Gutenberg's The Dash for Khartoum, by George Alfred Henty