So the next day she followed the goats at a distance and watched them while they grazed . At length , in the afternoon , the old woman noticed this particular nanny-goat stealing off by herself away from the herd and she at once went after her . On and on the goat walked for some way , and then disappeared into a cave in the rocks . The old woman followed the goat into the cave and then , what should she see but the animal giving her milk to a little boy-baby , whilst on the ground near by lay the sad remains of the baby 's dead mother ! Wondering and frightened , the old woman thought at last that this little baby might be a son to her in her old age , and that he would grow up and in time to come be her comfort and support . So she carried home the baby to her hut , and next day she took a spade to the cave and dug a grave where she buried the poor mother . Years passed by , and the baby grew up into a find handsome lad , as daring as he was beautiful , and as industrious as he was brave . One day , when the boy , whom the old woman had named Nur Mahomed , was about seventeen years old , he was coming from his day 's work in the fields , when he saw a strange donkey eating the cabbages in the garden which surround their little cottage . Seizing a big stick , he began to beat the intruder and to drive him out of his garden . A neighbour passing by called out to him -- ` Hi ! I say ! why are you beating the pedlar 's donkey like that ? ' ` The pedlar should keep him from eating my cabbages , ' said Nur Mahomed ; ` if he comes this evening here again I 'll cut off his tail for him ! ' Whereupon he went off indoors , whistling cheerfully . It happened that this neighbour was one of those people who make mischief by talking too much ; so , meeting the pedlar in the ` serai , ' or inn , that evening , he told him what had occurred , and added : ` Yes ; and the young spitfire said that if beating the donkey would not do , he would beat you also , and cut your nose off for a thief ! ' A few days later , the pedlar having moved on , two men appeared in the village inquiring who it was who had threatened to ill-treat and to murder an innocent pedlar . They declared that the pedlar , in fear of his life , had complained to the king ; and that they had been sent to bring the lawless person who had said these things before the king himself . Of course they soon found out about the donkey eating Nur Mahomed 's cabbages , and about the young man 's hot words ; but although the lad assured them that he had never said anything about murdering anyone , they replied they were ordered to arrest him , and bring him to take his trial before the king . So , in spite of his protests , and the wails of his mother , he was carried off , and in due time brought before the king . Of course Nur Mahomed never guessed that the supposed pedlar happened to have been the king himself , although nobody knew it .
But as he was very angry at what he had been told , he declared that he was going to make an example of this young man , and intended to teach him that even poor travelling pedlars could get justice XXXXX HIS country , and be protected from such lawlessness .
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