AMANULLAII

in Kabul. His refusal to follow the Court just at that
time was later to cause some ugly rumours. His actions,
immediately after the event which caused upheaval in
the country, were closely scrutinised by his enemies.
But Amanullah's reasons for remaining away from the
pleasant green valleys of Jallalabad, were that he was
sick of the pretences of life at Court.

He even preferred the bleak winter further north.
He had work to do, and he wished once more to follow
his roving life in the hills. He had not the slothful
temperament of the perfect courtier, even in a circle
where he could command universal respect. His
companions were the soldiers, and his courageous nature
led his feet often into the hills, following up the tiny
goat-tracks in the mountains where even the hardiest
of his lieutenants suffered from the biting cold and the
mountain mists falling from the chill heights of the
Pamirs.

But whatever his reasons, he was lucky to be in Kabul
when his father was assassinated in Laghman, near
Jallalabad. The blow was struck suddenly, when the
world was at peace. The Court was in a fluster* The
only calm man in either the winter or the summer
capitals was Amanullah,

Almost without excitement, he proclaimed himself
Amir. He had the confidence of power and the con-
viction that he was doing right for Afghanistan, He
expected no opposition. It is an index to the universal
respect in which he was held, that he met little
obstruction.

Inayatullah, of course, was the rightful heir. Diffi-
dently, he announced himself as the next ruler. But
there was yet another claimant* This was Nasrullah,
brother of Habibullah, and one of the chief schemers
at the old Court. The rights of succession, however,

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