66 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



and two men held the ropes in readiness to hoist the sails. 

 At the word of command a sudden shining ripple ran down 

 the muscles of the backs as they bent to the poles. Then 



THEN OUT FLEW THE LITTLE UNION JACKS 



cheers broke out from the people lining the banks, answered 

 by the swifter plunges of the boats which soon gained the 

 middle stream ; then out flew the little Union Jacks and up 

 went the white sails to the sun. As they swelled to the freer 

 wind, I felt my heart swell too with pride at the brave sight, 

 and my imagination went out before them striving to fill 

 in the chart of all their eventful voyage to the Nile, but it 

 grew tired of visionary, swift, smooth rivers and a bright blue 

 inland sea and it soon returned to me. Now as I write it seems 



