Two “Clever” Men

■山东  刘永科

There were once two “clever” men who wanted to dig a well. They worked hard for a whole day and dug a big hole at last.　　

“We have done very well. But what shall we do with the earth we have dug up?”　　

When they met the next day, one said to the other, “I’ve found the answer to our problem. We must dig another hole to put the earth in.”　　

They worked hard for another whole day and dug another big hole. Then they put all the earth from the well into the second hole.　　

“We are clever men and we have solved the problem in no time. But what shall we do with the earth that has come from the second hole?”　　

The following day they met again. One of them said, “Now I understand our mistake. We must dig another hole which must be twice as large as the second one.”　　

All that day they dug. When the third hole was finished, they put the earth from the second hole in it. There was still room for more earth. So they started to put the earth they had just dug back into the hole. But they could put only half of the earth in. Then the hole was full.　　

“What shall we do? We have to put the next half of earth into the first hole.”　　

“You are right. But we shall have no well then.”