A Clever Ruse

Long, long ago, the Mudumalai forest was a favorite spot for hunters. Some days, there would be so many hunters in the area that several animals were killed, leading to even accidental deaths among the hunters. In response, the government imposed restrictions and announced that anyone wishing to hunt there must hold a license. Trespassers were threatened with severe punishment.

One day, two friends—Velan and Murugan—were hunting in the forest when the officers in charge suddenly appeared and demanded to see their license papers. The friends fumbled for a moment; then Velan began to run. The forest officials chased him and, after a great deal of effort, managed to catch him. Velan coolly produced the license and showed it to the officers.

The officers were surprised and asked, “If you had the license with you, why did you run away?” Velan replied with a smile, “My friend doesn’t have a license.” The officers felt ashamed of themselves when they realized they had fallen victim to a clever ruse.