Arab slave-dealers within the zone of a British Protectorate. The editor
of the _Meteor_ believed that he had, and strenuously believed it--in the
interests of his shareholders. Drake, on the other hand, and the Colonial
Office, it should be added, were dispassionately indifferent to the
question, for the very precise reason that they knew it could never be
decided. There were doubts as to the exact sphere of British influence,
and the doubts favoured Drake for the most part. Insular prehensiveness,
at its highest flight, could do no more than claim Boruwimi as its
uttermost limit, and was aware it would be hard put to it to substantiate
the claim. The editor, nevertheless, persevered, bombarded its citizen
readers with warnings about trade fleeing from lethargic empires,
published a cartoon, and reluctantly took the blackest view of Drake's
character and aims.

Drake's march with a handful of men six hundred miles through a tangled
forest had been a handsome exploit, quickening British pride with the
spectacle of an Englishman at the head of it. Civilian blood tingled in
office and shop, claiming affinity with Drake's. It needed an Englishman
to bill-hook a path through that fretwork of branches, and fall upon his
enemy six weeks before he was expected--the true combination of daring
and endurance that stamps the race current coin across the world! Economy
also pleaded for Drake. But for him the country itself must have burned
out the hornets' nest, and the tax-payer paid, and paid dearly. For there
would have been talk of the expedition beforehand, the force would have
found an enemy prepared and fortified. The hornets could sting too!
Whereas Drake had burned them out before they had time to buzz. He need
not have said one word in exculpation of himself, and that indeed he
knew. But he had interests and ambitions of his own to serve; a hint of
them peeped out.