THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES
that is not accompanied by its solution. Is it possible that it proved
too hard a nut for the monks ? There is merely the note, "John
suffered no punishment for his sad fault."
46.—
The Riddle of the Crusaders.
On another occasion a certain knight, Sir Ralph de Bohun, was
a guest of the monks at Riddlewell Abbey. Towards the close of a
sumptuous repast he spoke as follows :
" My Lord Abbot, knowing full well that riddles are greatly to
thy liking, I will, by your leave, put forth one that was told unto me
in foreign lands. A body of Crusaders went forth to fight the good
cause, and such was their number that they were able to form
themselves into a square. But on the way a stranger took up arms
and joined them, and they were then able to form exactly thirteen
smaller squares. Pray tell me, merry monks, how many men went
forth to battle
?
"
Abbot David pushed aside his plate of warden pie, and made a
few hasty calculations.
" Sir Knight," said he at length, " the riddle is easy to rede. In
the first place there were 324 men, who would make a square 18
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