AMANULLAH

And when the invaders marched down on Kabul,
firing as they went ; when eventually they saw through
the smoke of battle the exhausted and drooping figures
chained to the walls, they found that not one of them
had been touched. Some of those women are now in
London. Some are still in the Court at Kabul. The
little slip of paper scrawled with the few words of fine
courage, offering their own lives for their country, is
carefully preserved in London,

Nadir Khan had finished his job. He had accomplished
what he set out to do, and was ready to retire.

" You are free," he told the Kabulis. " I have rid you
of this tyrant and usurper. You will manage your own
affairs the better without him. And I will go back.
Afghanistan has no longer need of me,"

But the people would have none of it. Even the
Kabulis, by now tired of the rule of fear which had come
to them with Bacha Sachao, pressed round the invader
with praise and gratitude.

" Stay ! " they cried. *' Stay with us and, since you
are a true Afghan, rule in Kabul in the way of former
Amirs. For we trust a soldier such as you are."

After which, turning to more important and pleasant
affairs, they began to consider details of the means of
death for Bacha Sachao.

He had surrendered only after a desperate struggle.
To the last he had shown his old bravado and fearless-
ness. He knew this was the end. Yet never for a
moment did he think of flying to the hiUs where he had
always been outlaw, and which had always given him
protection. Bacha Sachao stayed to satisfy the savage
vengeance of both the invaders and the Kabulis whom
he had victimised,

Reared in cruelty, little different from the beast, he
had ruled with a ferocity unparalleled in history* He had