Frederick Barker entertained in respect to their
new duties, in the new and novel career o f adventure
now opening before them, did not seem
to damp that honourable love o f country which
e v e ry Englishman abroad exhibits, and is determined
to gratify if he can. Their acquaintance
with the shipwright, Mr. Ferris, who had evidently
assisted at the ceremony o f planting the
British flag at the masthead o f many a new and
noble structure, destined to plough strange seas,
reminded them, during one o f the social evening
hours which th e y spent together, that it would
be a fine thing if th ey might also be permitted
to hoist a miniature emblem o f their nationality
o ve r their tent in camp, and over their canoes
on the lakes and rivers o f Africa.
T he Pococks and Barker accordingly, a few
days before our departure, formed themselves
into a deputation, and Frank, who was spokesman,
surprised me with the following request:—
“ My brother, Fred Barker, and myself, Sir,
have been emboldened to ask yo u a favour,
which no doubt y o u will think strange and
wrong. But we cannot forget, wherever w e go,
that we are Englishmen, and we should like to
be permitted to take something with us that
will always remind us o f who w e are, and be
a comfort to us even in the darkest hours of
trouble, perhaps even encourage Us to perform
our duties better. W e have come to ask you,
sir, if we may be permitted to make a small
British flag to hoist above our tent, and over
our canoe on the lakes.”
“My dear fe llow,” I replied, “ yo u surprise
me b y imagining for one moment that I could
possibly refuse you. This is not an American
Government or a British Government Expedition,
and I have neither the powe r nor disposition
to withhold my sanction to yo u r request. I f it
will be any pleasure to you, b y all means take
it, I cannot have the slightest objection to such an
innocent proceeding. A ll that I shall require
from yo u in Africa is such service as yo u can
g iv e, and i f yo u prove yourselves the highly
recommended lads y o u are, I shall not interfere
with any innocent pleasure yo u may feel yo u rselves
at liberty to take. I f one British flag is
not enough, yo u may take a thousand so far
as I am concerned.”
“ Thank yo u kindly, Sir. Y o u may rest assured
that we have entered y o u r service with the intention
to remember what my old father and
our friends strictly enjoined us to do, which was
to stick to yo u through thick and thin.”
T h e young Englishmen were observed soon
afterwards busy sewing a tiny flag, about 18 inches
square, out o f some bunting, and after a pattern
that Mr. Ferris procured for them. Whether
the complicated colours, red, blue, white, were
arranged properly, or the crosses according to