A RECENT RIDE TO HEEAT. 137 



with an air of real business than the Commander-in- 

 Chief. Another look round at the arsenal, the cita- 

 del, the walls, and the defences, and our brief visit 

 to Herat had conic to an end. 



"We rode out again, back to our sunny rose-garden, 

 merely to load up and march out for one short march 

 together. For next day we lost our political com- 

 panion, the gallant colonel, who had been ordered 

 straight back from Herat to London. "Was he sorry 

 to leave Herat 1 Anyway we were sorry to lose him, 

 though we knew well that, if the campaign is to 

 be fought out in Downing Street, he would stand as 

 true to his colours there as ever he would (had 

 the necessity arisen) in Herat itself. Our visit had 

 been an unqualified success. All had Avelcomed us, 

 priests, soldiers, and people. The people had swarmed 

 in from all the country-side to see us. Again and 

 again had we been told by the soldiers that the 

 presence of British officers was the one thing most 

 desired in Herat. The priests had offered up prayers 

 in the Masjid that our entrance might prove a happy 

 omen for Herat. God grant that it may be so ! 



