e
power of the Nayas, depicting scenes of battle, justice and execution.

"Let our son Omar stand forth and approach our Emerald Throne," exclaimed
the Naya at last, in a thin, rasping voice, moving slightly as she bent
forward, fixing her shining eyes upon us. They glittered with evil.

At the royal command all bowed low in submission, it being etiquette to
do this whenever the Naya expressed command or wish, and Omar, leaving my
side, strode forward with becoming hauteur, and, crossing the floor as
highly polished as glass, advanced to his royal mother, and, bending upon
his knee, pressed her thin, bony hand to his lips.

But even then no expression of pleasure crossed her stony features. I had
expected to witness an affectionate meeting between mother and son, and
was extremely surprised at the coldness of my friend's reception, having
regard to his long absence and the many perils we had together faced on
our entry into Mo.

"News was flashed unto me last night that thou hadst crossed the Thousand
Steps," the Queen said, slowly withdrawing her bony hand. "Why hast thou
returned from the land of the white men, and why, pray, hast thou brought
hither strangers with thee?"

"These strangers are heroes, each one of them," Omar answered, rising,
and standing before the throne. "Every man has already fought for thee,
and for Mo."

"For me? How?"

Then briefly he related how we had met the remnant of Samory's invading
force and defeated them, so that not a single fugitive remained.

"These savages fought merely for their own lives, not for me," she said
with a supercilious sneer, regarding the half-clad natives with disdain.
"We in Mo desire not the introduction of such creatures as these."

"Are not my friends welcome?" Omar asked, pale with anger. "A Sanom hath
never yet turned from his palace those who have proved themselves his
friends."

"Neither hath a Sanom sought the aid of savages," answered the Great
White Queen, with a glance of withering scorn.

"Adversity sometimes causeth us to seek strange alliances," my friend
argued. "These men of the Dagomba, Kona, their head man, and Scarsmere,
my friend from the land of the white men, have given me aid, and if thou
accordest them no welcome, then I, Omar, in the name of my ancestors, the
Nabas and the Nayas, will give them greeting, and provide them with
befitting entertainment while they are within our walls."

His words caused instant consternation. The