EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

between the two men often broke away from the narrow
limits usual between ruler and foreign envoy. They were
men who could respect each other, and who had many
interests in common.

Chief of these were their mutual love of sport and their
equal skill with rod and gun. More than once they
joined forces, though in these days Sir Francis was the
most frequent explorer of the outlying hills and valleys
of the country. When he returned from these trips, he
would regale Amanullah with a description of his success,
and perhaps into his sporting conversations there would
often enter some piece of information regarding the
attitude of the simple people of the wilds toward their
new King.

Above all, the friendship relied on the deep knowledge,
possessed by Sir Francis, of the Eastern mentality. In
particular, he knew the hardy Northerner, and his
experiences in the Khyber Pass, where he had held an
important and diplomatic position, were now of con-
siderable value to him,

Always, the talk would turn on the future, and the
King would lose the strained look of anxiety that
furrowed his brow these days. He would be uplifted by
the hopes and ambitions which he had carved out for his
country. The old fighting spirit was back. He was the
warrior bringing his valour and his determination into
the paths of peace. Sir Francis never expressed his
doubts, and, invariably non-committal, never gave voice
to the fears that were held by every other knowledge-
able person in the country, and which must have been
shared by himself.

All the news of the Court was brought to the British
Legation by the King himself. He would ask advice
from Sir Francis, and become the bold young man again

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