to enchant the boys."—Christian Leader.

FACING DEATH:

Or the Hero of the Vaughan Pit. A Tale of the Coal Mines. By G. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne in black and tint. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 5s.

"Facing Death" is a story with a purpose. It is intended to show that a lad who makes up his mind firmly and resolutely that he will rise in life, and who is prepared to face toil and ridicule and hardship to carry out his determination, is sure to succeed. The hero of the story, though only a colliery lad, is a character that boys will delight in. He is a typical British boy, dogged, earnest, generous, and though "shamefaced" to a degree, is ready to face death in the discharge of duty. His is a character for imitation by boys in every station.

"The tale is well written and well illustrated, and there is much reality in the characters."—Athenæum.

"If any father, godfather, clergyman, or schoolmaster is on the look-out for a good book to give as a present to a boy who is worth his salt, this is the book we would recommend."—Standard.

BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.

NAT THE NATURALIST:

Or a Boy's Adventures in the Eastern Seas. By G. Manville Fenn, author of "The Golden Magnet," "In the King's Name," &c. Illustrated by 8 full-page Pictures by Gordon Browne in black and tint. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 5s.

This is a pleasant story of a lad who, though he is brought up in a strictly quiet fashion by an aunt, has a great desire to go abroad to seek specimens in natural history, and has that desire gratified by an uncle who comes home from distant lands, whence he brings a beautiful collection. The boy Nat and his uncle Dick go on a voyage to the remoter islands of the Eastern seas, and their adventures there are told in a truthful and vastly interesting fashion, which will at once attract and maintain the earnest attention of young readers. The descriptions of Mr. Ebony, their black comrade, and of the scenes of savage life, are full of genuine humour.

"Mr. Fenn has hit upon a capital idea. This is among the best of the boys' books of the season."—The Times.

"We can conceive of no more attractive present for a young naturalist."—Land and Water.

"This sort of book encourages independence of character, develops resource, and teaches a boy to keep his eyes open."—Saturday Review.

"The late Lord Palmerston used to say that one use of war was to teach geography: such books as this teach it in a more harmless and cheaper way."—Athenæum.

"One of the best issues, if not absolutely the best, of Defoe's work which has ever appeared."—The Standard.

THE LIFE AND SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF
ROBINSON CRUSOE.

BY DANIEL DEFOE.

Beautifully Printed, and Illustrated by above 100 Pictures Designed by Gordon Browne.

Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, 6s.

There have been countless editions of "Robinson Crusoe," and they have mostly been imperfect, inasmuch as they have been so largely altered from the original text that the language in many instances has not been that of Defoe but of his revisers. The present volume has been carefully printed from the original edition, and all obsolete or little known terms and obscure phrases are explained in brief foot-notes. The "Editing" is not a corruption or pretended improvement of Defoe's great work.

"The best edition I have come across for years. If you know a boy who has not a 'Robinson Crusoe,' just glance at any one of the hundred illustrations in this edition and you will go no further afield in search of a present for that fortunate youth."—Truth.

"Of the many editions of Defoe's immortal story that have passed through our hands in recent years, we are inclined to rank this the most desirable as a present for a good boy. Gordon Browne's illustrations satisfy the high expectation we had formed from his work of last year."—The Academy.

"One may be pardoned for growing enthusiastic over the ideal edition which Messrs. Blackie have published this season. Well printed, handsomely bound, and beautifully illustrated, the volume may well become the standard edition of Defoe's evergreen work."—Edinburgh Courant.

BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD.

"Mr. G. A. Henty has found a formidable rival in Mr. Collingwood."—Academy.

THE CONGO ROVERS:

A Tale of the Slave Squadron. By Harry Collingwood. With 8 full-page Illustrations by J. Schönberg, in black and tint. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 5s.

The scene of this tale is laid on the west coast of Africa, and in the lower reaches of the Congo; the characteristic scenery of the great river being delineated with wonderful accuracy and completeness of detail. The hero of the story—a midshipman on board one of the ships of the slave squadron—after being effectually laughed out of his boyish vanity, develops into a lad possessed of a large share of sound common sense, the exercise of which enables him to render much valuable service to his superior officers in unmasking a most daring and successful ruse on the part of the slavers. There is the true flavour of salt water, the true scent of the sea-breeze in every page, while not a single expression or suggestion is to be found throughout the book to which the most fastidious reader could object.

THE PIRATE ISLAND:

A Story of the South Pacific. By Harry Collingwood. Illustrated by 8 full-page Pictures by C. J. Staniland and J. R. Wells, in black and tint. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, 5s.

This story details the adventures of a lad who was found in his infancy on board a wreck, and is adopted by, and brought up as, a fisherman. By a deed of true gallantry his whole destiny is changed, and, going to sea, he forms one of a party who, after being burned out of their ship in the South Pacific, and experiencing great hardship and suffering in their boats, are picked up by a pirate brig and taken to the "Pirate Island." After many thrilling adventures, they ultimately succeed in effecting their escape. The story depicts both the Christian and the manly virtues in such colours as will cause them to be admired—and therefore imitated.

"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. Clarke Russell."—The Times.

"The best of these books.... The events are described with minuteness and care. The result is a very amusing book."—Saturday Review.

"Told in the most vivid and graphic language. The youthful hero plays just the distinguished part which youthful readers will recognize with the most thorough satisfaction. It would be difficult to find a move thoroughly delightful gift-book."—Guardian.

"One of the best boys' books we have seen for a considerable time; there is thrown in just a dash of the modern novel,