hours since midnight
The Dagombas alone comprised Omar 's body-guard , and I found on my return to the palace that they had exchanged their scanty clothes of native bark-cloth for the rich bright-coloured silk uniforms of those who had acted in a similar capacity to the Naya . With their black happy shining faces they looked a magnificent set of men , though for the first few hours they appeared a trifle awkward in gay attire that was entirely strange to them . It was amusing , too , to watch how each stalked by , erect and proud , like a peacock spreading its brilliant plumage to the sun . That night , when the bright moon rose , lighting up the great silent court , until yesterday occupied by the terrible queen and her corrupt _ entourage _ , Omar and I sat together discussing the events of those fateful hours since midnight . We had eaten from the gold dishes in which the Naya 's food had been served ; we had quenched our thirst from the jewel-encrusted goblets that she was wont to raise to her thin blue lips . By Omar 's side I thus tasted , for the first time , the pleasures of royalty . My old chum had sent away his attendants , the host of slaves with the twelve Dagombas who acted as the body-guard on duty , and we sat alone together in the moonlight , the quiet broken only by the distant roll of a drum somewhere down in the city , and the cool plashing of the beautiful fountain as it fell softly into its crystal basin .