The P. and O. liner Sardinia was some twenty hours out of Shanghai, making a direct course for Nagasaki. Few passengers were on deck: it was drear and cold this January afternoon, the sky grey and sullen as with coming snow, the sea rolling heavily under a stiff north-easter that blew cuttingly through the Korea Strait. But beneath the bridge, somewhat sheltered from the wind, sat three figures in a group, talking earnestly. The eldest of the three, John Morton by name, a big shaggy Englis...

Mesopotamia, "the land between the rivers," has been brought by Time's revolution once more into the foreground of the history of the world. The plains where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob tended their flocks and herds; where the hosts of Sennacherib, Shalmaneser and Alexander contended for "world-power" in their day; where the Arabs, heirs of ancient civilisations, reared a civilisation of their own until it fell under the blight of Turkish dominion: have become once more the battle-ground of o...

One fine autumn evening, in the year 1754, a country cart jogged eastwards into Market Drayton at the heels of a thickset shaggy-fetlocked and broken-winded cob. The low tilt, worn and ill-fitting, swayed widely with the motion, scarcely avoiding the hats of the two men who sat side by side on the front seat, and who, to any one watching their approach, would have appeared as dark figures in a tottering archway, against a background of crimson sky. As the vehicle jolted through Shropshire ...

Ahmed, son of Rahmut Khan, chief of the village of Shagpur, was making his lonely way through the hills some three miles above his home. He could see the walled village perched on a little tract of grassy land just where the base of the hills met the sandy plain. It was two thousand feet or more below him, and he could almost count the flat-topped houses clustered beyond his father's tower, which, though actually it rose to some height above them, dominating them, and affording an outlook ...

Jolly good curry! said Bob Jackson, looking up over his spoon. "What do you say, Mac?" "Ay," responded Alan Mackenzie, in a drawl. He was a man of few words. "Your Hamid is certainly a treasure of a cook," Jackson went on. "Has he done you yet, Dick?" "Probably, but I haven't found him out, so it doesn't matter," answered Dick Forrester, the third of the party. "It shows you!" "What?" asked Mackenzie, who always required statements in full. "Why, you owl, that it's sometimes better to rely...

Stap me, Frank, if ever I rattle my old bones over these roads again! Every joint in me aches; every wrinkle—and I've too many—is filled with dust; and my wig—plague on it, Frank, my wig's a doormat. Look at it—whew! My lord Godolphin took off his cocked hat, removed his full periwig, and shook it over the side of the calash, wrying his lips as the horse of one of his escort started at the sudden cloud. My lord had good excuse for his petulance. It was a brilliant June day, in a summer of ...

Mr. John Greatorex was very wealthy, and very obstinate. He had made a large fortune as a manufacturer of chemicals, but disclaimed any knowledge of chemistry. He had dabbled a little in mechanics, and was convinced that he possessed an accurate practical knowledge of its applications. Consequently, when his new motor-car arrived, he saw no necessity to take a chauffeur with him on its trial spin. He was like a child with a new toy, jealous of participation. “My dear,” said Mrs. Greatorex,...

Among the passengers who boarded the Hedwig von Wissmann at Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika, one June day in 1914, there were two who engaged more particularly the attention of those already on deck. The first was a tall stalwart man of some fifty years, with hard blue eyes, full red cheeks, a square chin, and a heavy blond moustache streaked with grey. He stepped somewhat jerkily up the gangway, brought his hand stiffly to his brow in response to the salute of the first officer, and was led by ...

One hot sultry afternoon in June, the population of the little town of San Rosario in the Peruvian Andes was struck with sudden amazement at the sight of a motor-bicycle clattering its way through the main street with some risk to the dogs, poultry, and small boys who had been lazily disporting themselves there. It was not the bicycle itself that evoked their wonder: that was an object familiar enough. Nor was it the youth seated in the saddle, and steering it deftly past all obstacles. It...

The story follows the adventures of two young girls, likely sisters or close friends, who find themselves stranded on a remote island in the South Seas. They must rely on their resourcefulness, ingenuity, and resilience to survive in the unfamiliar and challenging environment.Mrs. Herbert Strang's novels were known for their adventurous spirit, vivid descriptions of exotic locales, and strong characterizations. "The Girl Crusoes" is likely to explore themes of survival, independence, and t...

Set during the Peninsular War (18071814), the novel follows a group of young soldiers who are part of the British Light Brigade fighting against Napoleon's forces in Spain. The main characters, typically a mix of brave and adventurous youths, find themselves in the thick of the action as they experience the hardships and heroics of war.The narrative focuses on their journey from their initial enlistment to the various battles and skirmishes they partake in across the rugged Spanish terrain...

The novel "No Man's Island" typically features themes of adventure, survival, and exploration. It likely revolves around a group of characters who find themselves stranded on a remote or uninhabited island, facing challenges such as wilderness survival, discovering hidden secrets, and possibly encountering dangerous wildlife or adversaries.Herbert Strang's writing style is known for its adventurous plots, vivid descriptions of exotic locations, and emphasis on courage and camaraderie among...