Once the most dexterous man in the village climbed a tall tree. He managed to climb up, but he just can’t get down from there. He began to call for help. People from all over the village came running, stood under the tree, wondering how to help me.
- We need to cut down the tree! - said one village sage.
“Your words are wise, you can’t say anything,” another village sage grinned. – What if a tree falls and crushes him?!
Everyone was silent.
- Hey, buddy! Close your eyes and jump! - the bravest man in the village finally advised.
- No, let’s better stand on each other’s shoulders and take him off the tree! - advised the strongest in the village.
- No, let's better build a tower next to the tree! – advised the most cautious one.
- And while you are building the tower, what will he eat, wood? – asked the most malicious man in the village.
People thought for a long time about what to do, but could not come up with anything. But then another one, the greatest sage in the village, approached them, and, after listening to their arguments, he grinned contemptuously.
- Bring me a long rope! – he ordered and rolled up his sleeves.
Then, raising his head, he shouted to the man sitting on the tree:
- Hey, you fool! Hold it! - And with these words he threw him one end of a long rope.
- Well, now tie yourself around her, and tie her tightly... Are you tied up?
- Tied up, oh savior!
- Now let's get down!
And with these words the sage pulled the rope hard.
The man sitting on the tree fell and was killed. People began to scold their sage:
- You killed a man!
- It wasn’t me who killed him! - answered the sage. - This is apparently his fate! After all, I carry buckets from the well every day, and not a single bucket has ever broken.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru