He escaped somehow every time , and felt amused rather than anxious about the next adventure . It was the custom of that city that the officer for the day of the palace guards should receive all his food direct from the king 's kitchen . One day , when Nur Mahomed 's turn came to be on duty , he was just sitting down to a delicious stew that had been sent in from the palace , when one of those gaunt , hungry dogs , which , in eastern countries , run about the streets , poked his nose in at the open guard-room door , and looked at Nur Mahomed with mouth watering and nostrils working . The kind-hearted young man picked out a lump of meat , went to the door , and threw it outside to him . The dog pounced upon it , and gulped it down greedily , and was just turning to go , when it staggered , fell , rolled over , and died . Nur Mahomed , who had been lazily watching him , stood still for a moment , then he came back whistling softly . He gathered up the rest of his dinner and carefully wrapped it up to carry away and bury somewhere ; and then he sent back the empty plates . How furious the king was when , at the next morning 's durbar , Nur Mahomed appeared before him fresh , alert and smiling as usual . He was determined , however , to try once more , and bidding the young man come into his presence that evening , gave orders that he was to carry a secret despatch to the governor of a distant province . ` Make your preparations at once , ' added he , ` and be ready to start in the morning . I myself will deliver you the papers at the last moment . ' Now this province was four or five days ' journey from the palace , and the governor of it was the most faithful servant the king had . He could be silent as the grave , and prided himself on his obedience . Whilst he was an old and tried servant of the king 's , his wife had been almost a mother to the young princess ever since the queen had died some years before . It happened that , a little before this time , the princess had been sent away for her health to another remote province ; and whilst she was there her old friend , the governor 's wife , had begged her to come and stay with them as soon as she could . The princess accepted gladly , and was actually staying in the governor 's house at the very time when the king made up his mind to send Nur Mahomed there with the mysterious despatch . According to orders Nur Mahomed presented himself early the next morning at the king 's private apartments . His best horse was saddled , food placed in is saddle-bag , and with some money tied up in his waist-band , he was ready to start . The king handed over to him a sealed packet , desiring him to give it himself only into the hands of the governor , and to no one else . Nur Mahomed hid it carefully in his turban , swung himself into the saddle , and five minutes later rode out of the city gates , and set out on his long journey .
The weather was very hot ; but Nur XXXXX thought that the sooner his precious letter was delivered the better ; so that , by dint of riding most of each night and resting only in the hottest part of the day , he found himself , by noon on the third day , approaching the town which was his final destination .
Mahomed day days despatch durbar evening morning saddle-bag waist-band years