midday
The big Sultan , the billy-goat , never showed himself but once , then he pushed away all he found near Moni , and bleated several times as significantly as if he had information to give about the condition of the flock , whose leader he felt himself to be . Little Mäggerli alone never allowed herself to be crowded away from her protector ; if the billy-goat came and tried to push her aside , she crept so far under Moni 's arm or head that the big Sultan no longer came near her , and so under Moni 's protection the little kid was not the least bit afraid of him . Otherwise she would have trembled if he came near her . Thus the sunny morning had passed ; Moni had already taken his midday meal and now stood thinking as he leaned on his stick , which he often needed there , for it was very useful in climbing up and down . He was thinking whether he would go up to a new side of the rocks , for he wanted to go higher this afternoon with the goats , but the question was , to which side ? He decided to take the left , for in that direction were the three Dragon-stones , around which grew such tender shrubs that it was a real feast for the goats . The way was steep , and there were dangerous places in the rugged wall of rock ; but he knew a good path , and the goats were so sensible and did not easily go astray .