Tne, Ponrcuuite Roost—By Valentine witlams, Modder &" Stoughton, London. 1/8.
Imagine an old castle dating back to early days, built on an isolated island off the west coast of Scotland—gaunt and weather-beaten—what could be a more perfect setting for a murder? "Such is the stage as it is Set by the author. Three separate Parties meet together in the caste. That night, while a storm rages out at sea cutting off the island from all communication from the mainland, a man is found dead in the old haunted room of the castle, with a dirk driven (rough his heart The murdered man has some connection with all three parties and the finger of Humour Is also cleverly introduced. One excellent passage describes 9 young. mahout™ riding his first Slephant. "At first he avoids the vi Tage for fear of not being able to keep his animal under control. Then gains confidence and determines show off his powers to his young contemporaries of the village. The diz astrous result of the ride—the elephant running amok into the midst of the busy market-place, finally fistodging its rider—must be read to ye appreciated.
But the reason why the tale is so vofreshing is that in most of us there {ig still that boyhood spirit of adventure. This book lifts. us from the humdrum of everyday life, and shows us places where humans are not governed by doctors and diets, but where man fights for his existence and only the fittest survive—s.6.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.