In that camp we remained, if I rightly remember, six days.  And then came word from Habibullah Kahn, the Afghan amir, that we might draw nearer Khabul.  So, keeping our distance from the Germans, we helped one another into the saddle (so weak most of us were by that time) and went forward three days’ march.  Then we camped again, much closer to the Germans this time, in fact, almost within shouting distance; and they again set up their machine, causing sparks to crackle from the wires of a telescopic tower they raised, to the very great concern of the Afghans who were in and out of both camps all day long.  One message that an Afghan told me the Germans had received, was that the British fleet was all sunk and Paris taken.  But that sort of message seemed to me familiar, so that I was not so depressed by it as my Afghan informant had hoped.  He went off to procure yet more appalling news to bring me, and no doubt was accommodated.  I should have had burning ears, but that about that time, their amir came, 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.