The Clerer Rooster
Four friends were drinking in a village pub.Their jackes were hanging on the backs of their chairs.Suddenly one of them,Jack ,shouted that he had lost one hundred pounds.Fred said he was sure nobody there had stolen the money.Tom suggested that they should all empty their pockets on the table .But the owner of the pub would not let them do that because all money looks the same .Nobody knew what to do .Just then,Mike ,a traveller,stood up.He said he could help find the money.
"You know how clever some animals are,"He said ."I've found out that roosters are good at catching thieves.Let's borrow the pub owner's rooster."
Mike took a big black pot and put it upside down on the table .Then he put the rooster under it ."After I turn off the lights,"he said, "you must come up one by one and touch the bottom of the pot with your right hand. When the thief does so ,the rooster will crow ."
The others did not know whether they should believe him. One by one they went past the table in the dark ,the rooster never made a noise.
"I'm afraid it was a waste of time ,"Fred said when the light were turned back on.
"I'm not sure it was ,"Mike said .Then he asked everybody to show his right hand .He looked at each hand in turn , then took Fred's hand and said ,"Fred,give the money back to Jack."
"You must have made a mistake. The rooster never crowed!I haven't stolen the money,"said Fred.
Mike told Fred to look at all the other hands."They're all black except yours. Can you explain why you didn't dare to touch the pot,Fred?"