one o’clock
The last thing I remember was the appearance of Sammy , looking very smart , in his blue cotton smock , who , now that the fighting was over , emerged like a butterfly when the sun shines after rain . `` Oh ! Mr. Quatermain , '' he said , `` I welcome you home again after arduous exertions and looking into the eyes of bloody war . All the days of absence , and a good part of the nights , too , while the mosquitoes hunted slumber , I prayed for your safety like one o'clock , and perhaps , Mr. Quatermain , that helped to do the trick , for what says poet ? Those who serve and wait are almost as good as those who cook dinner . '' Such were the words which reached and , oddly enough , impressed themselves upon my darkening brain . Or rather they were part of the words , excerpts from a long speech that there is no doubt Sammy had carefully prepared during our absence .