Not So Dumb

The captain of the ship “Dragon” strode up and down the deck in ill humor, bawling orders to all and sundry. It was past sailing time, and still, there was some cargo to be stowed below. Delays cost money, and as the captain was part-owner, the loss of any money, even a solitary rupee, was a catastrophe. Still, this voyage to Singapore and Borneo should yield a good profit, and he had managed to sign on a crew at cheap rates.

One of the seamen he had signed on was Maung, a burly Burmese hillman who was as strong as an ox but appeared to be quite simple-minded. The extent of Maung’s conversation seemed to be a series of grunts, and the captain shrewdly thought it would be easy to levy a few fines on this oaf and enrich his own pocket.

The voyage from Rangoon to Singapore passed without incident, although easygoing Maung was always the subject of the crew’s jokes, which he took with his placid good humor and merely grunted.

When the ship docked at Singapore, Maung, with vivid memories of the poor food on board, made straight for a food stall and was soon sitting on the dockside enjoying his purchases. Before he had taken many mouthfuls, Maung discovered he had company. A small puppy dog, with pleading eyes, was sitting at his feet, clearly asking for something to eat.

Maung, who loved all animals, was soon sharing his food with the pup, which gobbled everything up with the greatest delight. When it was time to go back to the ship, Maung tried to shoo the pup away. But the little dog had now found a friend and had no intention of parting with him. In the end, Maung thought it would be a good idea to take the pup back to Rangoon, as it would make a good companion for his sister.

Striding on board with the pup under his arm, Maung approached the captain and asked permission to keep the little dog on board.

“That’s all right,” said the captain. “There’s plenty of junk on the dockside from which you can make him a kennel, and the cook will spare the little beggar some food.”

When the ship eventually docked back at Rangoon, the seamen lined up to receive their pay, which the captain doled out as though he was loath to part with the money. When Maung stepped forward to get his money, the captain shook his head. “I am afraid you have nothing to come,” he said. “Your wages amount to eighty rupees, but your dog has cost me more than that for the food it has eaten.”

Eyeing the captain keenly, Maung merely grunted, and with the little pup scampering behind him, walked off the ship.

Two weeks later, the ship was due to sail again, and the captain was surprised when Maung signed on again. What a simpleton, he thought. I shall soon think of a means to do him out of his pay.

It was noticed that on this trip Maung was wearing an ornate short sword. When asked why he needed a sword, Maung merely smirked and muttered, “This is a magical sword that can make money.”

The crew laughed at such an absurd suggestion that a sword could make money. But little did they know that his was one of a matching pair, and the other sword was safely hidden in Maung’s locker.

Several evenings later, Maung stood at the ship’s rail, busy sharpening the blade of his sword, much to the amusement of the other members of the crew. Suddenly the sword seemed to slip out of Maung’s hand and fell into the water. “Bother,” he shouted. “Tomorrow morning I will dive in and get it.”

The captain who happened to be close by burst out laughing. “What an idiot you are,” he exclaimed. “By tomorrow morning, the ship will be miles away.”

Maung looked keenly at the captain. “I will wager you one hundred rupees that tomorrow at dawn I will dive over the side and retrieve my sword.”

The captain fairly gasped at the thought of such easy money. “It’s a bet,” he shouted. “At dawn tomorrow we will all be here to see you get back your sword, and I shall be ready to receive your hundred rupees.”

At dawn the following morning, Maung came on deck, with the other sword carefully hidden under his clothing, and without a glance at the sniggering crew, Maung dived into the ocean.

A minute went slowly by, then two minutes, with everybody peering over the side. Then to everyone’s surprise, Maung’s head broke the surface, and firmly grasped in his mouth was the sword!

As Maung clambered on board, the other seamen, with their eyes popping out of their heads, looked at the sword and turned to the captain, whispering, “It’s the same sword. Now you have to pay Maung a hundred rupees.”

The captain was too stunned to utter a word. He knew he had been hoodwinked. But how? Groaning inwardly, the captain delved into his pocket and slowly counted out a hundred rupees of his precious money, which he almost threw at Maung, accompanied by a look as black as thunder.

“Now my dog will have a nice red collar,” chuckled Maung as he stowed his money away.