It was _my_ education that was being completed, my mind that was developing, and as I sat and looked at the Oriental, I felt that perhaps this great London was, after all, _not_ the “hub of the Universe.” I was bewildered. What was the “hub!” Was it Kabul? When my leave drew to a close, I bade adieu to my little wife, and sailed for Bombay. It was as well for the Armenian that we went, for, somehow, he seemed almost a wreck when we got on board. I said as much to him, and he accounted for his condition by saying that the climate of England was too strong for him. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE WELCOME TO KABUL. Pathan rifle thieves. Dacca. The midnight alarm: the mêlée: the accident: rescued. “Bally rascals:” attempted explanation. The next morning. What it was all about. The terror of the Amîr’s name. Running postmen. Kabul post. Arrival. Armenian’s opinion of London. Changes in the English “staff.” Visitors: letters. Lady doctor’s application. Salaam to the Amîr. His Highness’s welcome: his conversation. The military Durbar. Presents. The new British Agent. Visit to the Sultana. Salaam to Prince Habibullah. His conversation. Another visit to the Amîr: his appreciation of scenic effect. His answer to the lady doctor’s application. At Peshawur I found a very kind letter from His Highness waiting for me, with an order for as many horses as I needed. The guard were to meet me at Lundi Kotal Serai. I will not trace the journey in detail, though one incident that occurred may be worth relating, showing as it does what miracles may be worked by the magic of the Amîr’s name. I had some English firearms with me--a couple of rifles and a shot gun--packed in cases, which I wished to present to the Amîr, and when we reached Dacca the Armenian was considerably disturbed in his mind concerning the safety of these weapons. The neighbouring Pathans, he said, were exceedingly clever thieves, and they had a curious passion for English rifles. In the evening he told me several interesting stories, laughable in their cleverness, of the way in which these Pathans managed to obtain from Peshawur weapons of English manufacture. [Sidenote: The Midnight Alarm.] The tents had been put up facing the river on the edge of the high bank, in order to catch as much breeze as possible. The Armenian’s tent was just at a corner where a nullah or dry water-course cut the bank; mine was next. The nullah was perhaps twelve feet deep, and the bank of the river some twenty feet above the surface of the water. I turned in about ten o’clock and slept soundly till about midnight, when I was awakened suddenly by the sound of a scuffle. Instantly it occurred to me, “the Shenwarris are after my guns.”