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AMANULLAH

past the northern region, and through the Khyber Pass,
there were undefended cities to be sacked, great grazing
plains to be occupied, cattle and crops such as were
never seen in his own dear but cruel land.

The promises of German agents were specious* The
Turks were their blood-brothers, and there could be no
harm in taking the side of their brothers in the Moslem
faith.

War, and his people were made for war !

But old Habibullah said nothing, and parleyed day
by day on equal terms with all the delegates from all
the Powers. He would turn his eloquent hands palm
upwards and flutter them from the wrist to depict his
state of mind. He would smile, and agree with everyone
who came to sec him, and give nothing away. He would
bargain, just for the love of bargaining, and his inter-
viewers would go away without an inkling of what he
wanted to do, what he meant to do, what he could do.

He was playing the old Afghan game, highly un-
satisfactory to his son. He was sitting on the fence,
greatly pleased with the importance that Afghanistan
had suddenly gained in international affairs. He
curbed his son's impetuosity*

But, secretly, the Amir had given his word to the
British.

" Have confidence," he had sent down as a verbal
message to India. " Trust in the word of an Afghan.
You must not be surprised if I appear to be against
your interests. But, you know, I deal with 6 kittle
cattle '., /'

He kept his word. The depleted defences of the
North-West Frontier were never harassed. Up in
Kabul he played with the schemers as the schemers
hoped to play with him. He knew his " kittle cattle."

But it cannot be imagined that the forced inactivity

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