The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

QUESTION: THREE MERCHANTS AND THREE ROBBERS HAD TO CROSS A
LAKE. HOWEVER, ONLY ONE ROWBOAT WAS AVAILABLE AND IT COULD
SAFELY CARRY ONLY TWO PEOPLE AT A TIME. HOW COULD THEY ALL
MANAGE TO GET ACROSS SINCE ONE MERCHANT WAS AFRAID TO BE LEFT
ALONE WITH TWO ROBBERS? ANSWER: FIRST OF ALL TWO ROBBERS
CROSSED. ONE ROBBER THEN BROUGHT THE BOAT BACK AND ROWED ACROSS
THE THIRD ROBBER. AFTERWARDS HE RETURNED ONCE MORE AND
REMAINED ON SHORE. THEN TWO MERCHANTS GOT INTO THE BOAT AND
ROWWED ACROSS. ONE MERCHANT IN COMPANY WITH ONE ROBBER RETURNED
WITH THE BOAT. THE ROBBER GOT OUT OF THE BOAT AND THEN TWO
MERCHANTS ROWED ACROSS. AFTER THAT A ROBBER RETURNED TO GET THE
LAST ROBBER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FITZGERALD PLAYGROUND ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CRIME