Section 1
Once upon a time, there was a man who ventured into the woods with the intention of cutting hop-poles. However, he couldn't find any trees that were sufficiently long, straight, and slender as he desired, eventually, he stumbled upon a location deep within the woods, where a large pile of stones was stacked high above. As he approached the pile of stones, the man heard agonizing groans and moans, as if someone were on the brink of death. Concerned, he approached the source of the distress to offer assistance. It was then that he discovered the origin of the sounds—a great flat stone resting on top of the heap. The stone was incredibly heavy, requiring the strength of several individuals to lift it. However, undeterred, the man returned to the woods and felled a tree. He fashioned the tree into a lever and used it to pry the stone upwards,to his astonishment, a fearsome Dragon emerged from beneath the stone, the Dragon immediately lunged towards the man, intent on devouring him whole. In response to the Dragon's attack, the man protested, reminding the creature that he had actually saved its life, he expressed his disappointment, considering it an act of ingratitude for the Dragon to harbor the intention of devouring him.
"Perhaps," replied the Dragon, "but you should also understand that after being trapped here for hundreds of years without a taste of food, I am famished. Moreover, it is the way of the world to repay debts in such a manner."
The man strongly pleaded his case and earnestly begged for his life. After much negotiation, they reached an agreement, they decided that the first living being they encountered would serve as an impartial arbiter. If the verdict of the arbiter favored the man, his life would be spared, however, if the arbiter ruled in favor of the Dragon, the Dragon would be allowed to devour the man.
Coincidentally, the first creature to appear was an old hound, running along the road below the hillside. They approached the hound and asked him to act as the judge in their dispute.
"God knows," said the hound, "I have faithfully served my master since I was a young pup. I kept watch night after night while he enjoyed peaceful sleep. I have protected our home from fires and thieves on numerous occasions, but now, I can neither see nor hear as I used to, and my master wants to put an end to my life. And now, I am forced to flee, wandering from house to house, begging for scraps to sustain myself until I eventually perish from hunger. No, this is the way of the world," lamented the hound. "That's how it repays its debts."
"Now I am going to devour you," declared the Dragon, making another attempt to swallow the man. However, the man pleaded and prayed fervently for his life. Eventually, they reached a new agreement. They decided that the next being to arrive would serve as the final judge. If this new arrival sided with both the Dragon and the hound, the Dragon would be allowed to feast on the man. However, if the judgment differed, the man would be spared and allowed to live.
As fate would have it, an old limping horse came trotting down the road that ran beneath the hill. They called out to the horse and asked him to arbitrate their dispute. The horse, willing and ready, agreed to fulfill the role of a judge in their case.
"Now, I have faithfully served my master," said the horse, "for as long as I was able to pull and carry. I labored and toiled for him until sweat dripped from every hair on my body. I worked so hard that I have become lame, exhausted, and worn out from the strain of labor and the passing years. Now, I am no longer fit for any purpose. I am deemed unworthy of my sustenance, and my master intends to end my life with a bullet," lamented the horse. "No, no! This is the way of the world. That's how the world repays its debts," he concluded, expressing resignation to his fate. "
"Well, now I am going to devour you," threatened the Dragon, widening its jaws in an attempt to swallow the man. Once again, the man pleaded earnestly for his life.
