Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-08-19
Reviews Of New Books

sCaptain BlooA.~ by Rafael Sabatini.
author OF "Scaramouche." Fronts
piece In color sby n. C. Wyeth.
Boston, Mass: Houshton Miffiin Co.,
Park street. ($2).
1t may with confidence be predicted
that the popularity attained. and just
IN. by "Scagnmouche" will be more
than rivaled by the reception OF
captain Blood" Those who enjoyed
the one will oven more thoroughly en-
10Y the other.
nance OF the best kind, and 1t Is ap-
parent that the taste OF the reading
public. soured to repletion by the re-
cent influx OF the ~alacious novel. dis
gushing in detail and hideously threat
ening In Its influence. will turn with
relief and pleasure TO clean books that
will hold the interest without Offend
Ing moral instincts. And 1t is thrill
ing in its recital OF adventure and
daring deeds.
Somewhat prosaic IL Peter Blood
when introduced TO the reader, on the
eve OF the decisive battle on Sedge-
moor field which put an end to the
CHASTITY cndeavor OF the Duke Of Mon
mouth to seize the throne OF King
James II Of England. He had set
himself down at Bridgewater, after
several years of fighting In foreign
lands, attending TO the peaceful and
useful vocation of country ply
stefan. and he had no sympathy to
waste either on Monmouth or King
James. But because he professionally
attended wounded rebel officer, the
| next day. he was arrested by Colonel
IIirkos bloody lambs" thrust into
| iail. charged with treason, convicted
before the infamous Jeffreys In short
order, and by that judicial fiend
sentenced to be hanged. But he was
saved by the Kings order. melted to
| greed by n satiated taste for further
blood. and with others sent to the Bar
bados and sold as n slave.
Then his adventure began. Peter
| Blood never was meant for a slave
and never would consent to be one. He
was spared from beastly labor by the
employment of his more valuable SER
| vices as a physician, and naturally
| planned for not only his own escape
but OF those who came with him
A piratical attack upon the town by q
greedy Spaniard favored their plans
and under Peters daring leadership
they captured the attacking vessel ant
set forth for that great retreat o.
| pirates OF the Spanish Main. tn,
Tortugas There he fitted out with {
| full complement Of men and supple:
and became Captain Peter Blood of tn,
! fr,gate Arabella, named in honor o
the attractive niece OF the man wht
had bought him as a slave, and fol
whom he had conceived deep, but a
that time hopeless, affection.
Then follows a career OF adventur.
that thrills the reader at every DARN,
exploit and II Is full of them. Pete
thrived on piracy. but was ever tn
gentleman. His career was eventfu
Fate led him into the English nava
service. az a brief expedient, then int,
the French naval service. again int
piracy. and later into the English ser
vice once more. after King James
whom he hated. had been driven from
the throne and good King William ha,
taken his place. He was appointe,
governor OF Port Royal and he gained
the hand OF the maiden he loved. Fol
his high sense OF honor, his nativ
chivalry. as well as his unrivalle,
vaIor, fully effaced the piratical dis
grace and made him a mate At for an
1 TaI