Seventeen camels

Seventeen camels

　An old man called his three sons together and said, “Sons, I will die soon. To my eldest son, I give half my camels, to my second, one third, and to my youngest, one ninth.” Soon after that he died.

　The old man had seventeen camels, and the three brothers didn’t know how to do as their father said. They thought for a long time about the problem, and it seemed that they must either kill some of the camels and cut them into pieces, or disobey¹ their father. At last, they went to their father’s old friend and asked for his advice². As soon as he heard their story, he said, “I will help you. I am a good friend of your father’s. I am old. I have only one camel, but take it. It is yours.”

　The three sons thanked the old man and took his camel. Now they found it was easy to do as their father wished. The eldest took half—that was nine camels; the second took one third—that was six; and the youngest took one ninth—that was two.

　After each had got his camels, they found that there was still a camel there. To show their thanks to their father’s friend, they gave the camel back to him.

Notes:

1. disobey v. 违反 2. advice n. 建议