Habibullah Kahn, looking like a European in
his neatly fitting clothes, but surrounded by a staff of officers
dressed in greater variety of uniforms than one would have believed
to exist. He had brought with him his engineers to view this
wonderful machine, but before approaching either camp--perhaps to
show impartiality--he sent for the German chief and one, and for
Ranjoor Singh and one. So, since the German took his doctor, Ranjoor
Singh took me, he and I both riding, and the amir graciously
excusing me from dismounting when I had made him my salaam and he
had learned the nature of the wound.

After some talk, the amir asked us bluntly whence we came and what
our business might be, and Ranjoor Singh answered him we were
escaped prisoners of war. Then he turned on the German, and the
German told him that because the British had seen fit to cut off
Afghanistan from all true news of what was happening in the world
outside, therefore the German government, knowing well the open mind
and bravery and wisdom of the amir and his subjects, had sent
himself at very great trouble and expense to receive true messages
from Europe and so acquaint with the true state of affairs a ruler
and people with whom Germany desired before all things to be on
friendly terms.

After that we all went down in a body--perhaps a hundred men, with
the amir at our head, to the German camp; and there the German and
his officers displayed the machine to the amir, who, with a dozen of
his staff around him, appeared more amused than astonished.

So the Germans set their machine in motion. The sparks made much
crackling from the wires, at which the amir laughed aloud. Presently
the German chief read off a message from Berlin, conveying the
kaiser's compliments to his highness, the amir.

"Is that message from Berlin?" the amir asked, and I thought I heard
one of his officers chuckle.

"Yes, Your Highness," said the German officer.

"Is it not relayed from anywhere?" the amir asked, and the German
stared at him swiftly--thus, as if for the first time his own
suspicion were aroused.

"From Stamboul, Your Highness--relayed from Stamboul," he said, as
one who makes concessions.

The amir chuckled softly to himself and smiled.

"These are my engineers," said he, "all college trained. They tell
me our wireless installation at Khabul, which connects us through
Simla with Calcutta and the world beyond, is a very good one, yet it
will only reach to