The Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, who has of late years won world-wide popularity as the writer of "Mehalah," "John Herring," and many other novels, was born at Exeter, and is the eldest son of Mr. Edward Baring-Gould, of Lew-Trenchard, Devon, where the family has resided for nearly 300 years, and of which place he is now the Rector. He is also Justice of the Peace for the County of Devon. He had written on various subjects of historical research before he took to novel-writing. LORD CHARLES BERESFORD. BORN 1846. [Illustration: AGE 14. _From a Photograph._] [Illustration: AGE 20. _From a Photograph._] [Illustration: AGE 40. _From a Photo. by Dickinson & Foster._] [Illustration: PRESENT DAY. _From a Photo. by Merlin, Athens._] Lord Charles Beresford, son of the Marquis of Waterford, entered the Royal Navy at thirteen, served on several warships, and accompanied the Prince of Wales to India, in 1875, as Naval _Aide-de-Camp_. At the bombardment of Alexandria he was in command of the gunboat _Condor_, and his gallant conduct in bearing down on the Marabout batteries and silencing guns immensely superior to his own was so conspicuous that the Admiral's ship signalled: "Well done, _Condor_!" In 1884 he assisted Lord Wolseley in the Nile Expedition. JOHN ROBERTS. BORN 1847. [Illustration: AGE 2. _From a Photograph._] [Illustration: AGE 16. _From a Photograph._] [Illustration: AGE 26. _From a Photograph by Whitlock, Birmingham._] [Illustration: PRESENT DAY. _From a Photo. by Alerts, Bombay._] John Roberts, the finest billiard player the world has ever seen, was born at Ardwick, Manchester. He commenced his career as a billiard player very early in life, for when only a child of eleven he assisted his father at the George Hotel, in Liverpool, his father at the time being universally considered the best in England, and, consequently, we find that he had in early life the very best model from which to study the game. Some thirty years ago, when Roberts's father was champion, a break of over 200 was a rare event, whereas now it is an every day occurrence with third-rate players. Roberts's highest all-round break is 3,000. His superiority to those who rank next to him is unprecedented, as evinced by his recent victory over Peall, to whom he gave 9,000 in 24,000. Roberts's style is simply perfect, and it is wonderful to watch the various strokes during a long break, consisting as they do of some requiring great execution and power of cue, and others showing the utmost delicacy of touch. _The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes._ XVII.--THE ADVENTURE OF THE "GLORIA SCOTT." BY A. CONAN DOYLE.