THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES
two, or three and three, or five and five, or six and six, or ten and
ten, or fifteen and fifteen, or all thirty in a row. In no other way may
we ride so that there be no lack of equal numbers in the rows.
Now, a party of pilgrims were able to thus ride in as many as sixty-four
different ways. Prithee tell me how many there must perforce
have been in the company." The Merchant clearly required the
smallest number of persons that could so ride in the sixty-four
ways.
13.—
The Man of Law's Puzzle.
The Sergeant of the Law was " full rich of excellence. Discreet
he was, and of great reverence." He was a very busy man, but
like many of us to-day, " he seemed busier than he was." He was
talking one evening of prisons and prisoners, and at length made the
following remarks : " And that which I have been saying doth
forsooth call to my mind that this morn I bethought me of a riddle
that I will now put forth." He then produced a slip of vellum, on
which was drawn the curious plan that is now given. " Here,"
saith he, " be nine dungeons, with a prisoner in every dungeon save
one, which is empty. These prisoners be numbered in order, 7, 5,
11
