THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES
" Now, gentle anglers," said he, " rede me this riddle of the
Twelve Fishes. Start at any basket you like, and, always going in
one direction round the pond, take up one fish, pass it over two
other fishes, and place it in the next basket. Go on again ; take up
another single fish, and, having passed that also over two fishes,
place it in a basket; and so continue your journey. Six fishes only
are to be removed, and when these have been placed, there should
be two fishes in each of six baskets, and six baskets empty. Which
of you merry wights will do this in such a manner that you shall go
round the pond as few times as possible ? "
I will explain to the reader that it does not matter whether the
two fishes that are passed over are in one or two baskets, nor how
many empty baskets you pass. And, as Brother Jonathan said, you
must always go in one direction round the pond (without any
doubling back) and end at the spot from which you set out.
42.—
The Riddle of the Pilgrims.
One day when the monks were seated at their repast, the Abbot
announced that a messenger had that morning brought news that
8 Rooms on Uooer Floor.
8 Rooms on Lower Floor.
a number of pilgrims were on the road and would require their
hospitality.
" You will put them," he said, " in the square dormitory that has
two floors with eight rooms on each floor. There must be eleven
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