EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

errand of mercy dramatic in its results and noteworthy
in its success.

That cold morning, the day before Christmas Eve,
twenty women and children were hurried from the pro-
tecting walls of the British Legation. They were bundled
rapidly into the huge cabin of the 'plane. They brought
with them only pathetic little parcels of precious
possessions, and were wrapped up roughly with rugs,
leather coats, and scarves belonging to Air Force
officers. Among them was Lady Humphrys, who
waved a farewell to her husband, well dressed and
debonair as ever, as he saw to the rapid departure of the
little party. The 'plane set its nose again for the south,
and an hour and a half later landed on the Peshawar
flying-ground with its precious human cargo.

That was the first of a steady programme which
continued until the first week in February. Nearly
every day, 'planes set off from Peshawar. Often they
were prevented by bad visibility, but often they set
off in spite of the threat of snow and an early mist which
clouded the hills. By the 7th of February, when the
last trip was made to bring Sir Francis Humphrys, and
the last remaining members of the Legation, no less
than 308 men, women, and children had been trans-
ported to safety. There were British, Indians, Germans,
Italians, and French. There was not a single casualty
or accident in the whole operation, save when a German
woman stepped into the sweep of the propellers while
waiting at Kabul, and was killed.

During the latter flights, also, Amanullah had gone,
and the safeguarding of the 'planes while they were on
the ground at Kabul was a more delicate matter, as
will be seen. The engines were never able to stop
while on the ground. To save time, the propellers were
whirring during the whole period that the passengers

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