One traveler decided to rest in the shade of a large tree. He lay down and fell asleep, and when he got ready to move on, he discovered that his wallet was gone.
There was a village nearby.
Not knowing how to help his grief, the traveler began to roll on the ground screaming in despair. People came running to the noise and began gossiping:
“The theft happened on our land, no matter how the whole village had to be held accountable for it.”
Meanwhile, someone was already in a hurry to report everything to the judge. He called the victim to him and began to interrogate him:
– Why do you disturb the peace and order with your screams?
“Oh, great chief,” he answered, “while I was sleeping under this tree, my wallet was stolen.” Since I don’t know where to look for the thief, what can I do but scream and complain?
Having learned how the case was, the judge ordered one branch to be cut off from the tree and brought to court for questioning.
And while people were going to get the branch, the judge ordered a hole to be dug in the yard, put one of the guards there and punished him:
- When you hear my questions, answer: “Great Chief, let me look at the people and identify the thief.”
The hole was well covered. And when they brought the branch, the judge put it in this place and pretended to interrogate her. The guard answered as he was ordered. Instantly a rumor spread throughout the village:
– The tree can speak, it promised to point out the thief! Hearing about this, the scammer who stole the wallet became very worried. “Everything is lost,” he decided, “it’s better to admit it yourself.”
And, taking the money, he went to the judge to confess.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru