Once upon a time, on a moonlight night, three young men were walking monotonously¹ along a solitary² country road. Just where they were going nobody could tell: but when they came to a place where the road branched into three, they stopped there like nails attracted by a powerful magnet. At this crossroads a helpless old man lay groaning³ as if in mortal pain. At the sight of the travellers he tried to raise his head, but in vain. The three companions then ran to him, helped him up, and fed him a part of the rice they had with them.

 

The sick old man gradually regained⁴ strength, and at last could speak to them. He thanked them, gave each of the companions a hundred pesos, and said, “Each one of you shall take one of these branch-roads. At the end of it is a house where they are selling something. With these hundred pesos that I am giving each of you, you shall buy the first thing that you see there.” The three youths accepted the money, and promised to obey the old man’s directions.

 

Pedro, who took the left branch, soon came to the house described by the old man. The owner of the house was selling a rain-coat. “How much does the coat cost?” Pedro asked the landlord.

 

[123]“One hundred pesos, no more, no less.”

 

“Of what value is it?” said Pedro.

 

“It will take you wherever you wish to go.” So Pedro paid the price, took the rain-coat, and returned.

 

Diego, who took the middle road, arrived at another house. The owner of this house was selling a book. “How much does your book cost?” Diego inquired of the owner.

 

“One hundred pesos, no more, no less.”

 

“Of what value is it?”

 

“It will tell you what is going on in all parts of the world.” So Diego paid the price, took the book, and returned.

 

Juan, who took the third road, reached still another house. The owner of the house was selling a bottle that contained some violet-colored liquid. “How much does the bottle cost?” said Juan.

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