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A riddle
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John Hale
John Hale
Yarn Weaver

Dec-8-2004 01:45

Hello all.
I'm fairly new to Sleuth and I thought I might share a little hobby of mine with you all. Here's something for that sad moment when the mysteries of the day are all done.

Thousands lay up gold within this house,
but no man made it.
Spears past counting guard this house,
but no man wards it.
What is it?

Replies

Bill Oakes
Bill Oakes

Sep-6-2006 11:38

I have a great riddle. My father told me this when I was young. Every person I have told has been unable to get it right.

You are travelling down a road, which comes to a T-Junction. One direction leads to safety, and theothe direction leads to oblivion. You cannot see which is which. In the hills behind the junction, there are two tribes, one of which always tell the truth, and one which always tell lies. A tribesman appears by your side, and says one thing:

"We may lie, we may not, you cannot say for sure.
You may only ask me one question, to secure your safety."

The question is: What must you ask this tribesman, to ensure that you go the correct way.

Please note; you cannot turn round, change your mind or go back the way you came. Apologies if this may have been asked before but this thread is two years old and very long!

roamie
roamie
Well-Connected

Sep-6-2006 13:00

Well, I certainly hope someone knows the answer or you are going to tell us Bill, because I have 5 people trying to figure this out and the curiosity to find out the answer is killing us.

Serges
Serges
Vigilante

Sep-6-2006 14:50

One possible question:

"If you were from the other tribe, which path would you tell me leads to safety?"

If he is from the truth-telling tribe, he will be honest and say that his counterpart (the liar) would tell you the wrong way.

If he is from the lying tribe, he will lie and say that his counterpart (the truth-teller) would tell you the wrong way.

So no matter which way the tribesman says is safe, you know to go the other way.

Bill Oakes
Bill Oakes

Sep-6-2006 15:28

Well done Serges! there is one other question you could have asked:

If I asked one of your fellow tribesmen, which way would they say leads to safety?

That way a liar would lie and give you the correct answer and the truth tellers would tell the truth and also give you the correct answer.

Seriously, after all these years not one person could get it and then its answered in under 4 hours.

Bill Oakes
Bill Oakes

Sep-6-2006 15:30

Ok, here's one more. If anybody answers this in a hurry I am going home!

What goes up, but at the same time goes down, up to the sky and down to the ground, my present tense and my past tense too, lets go for a ride just me and you...what am I?

Answers on a postcard.

Serges
Serges
Vigilante

Sep-6-2006 15:34

Here's my contribution to the cause (too lazy to see if it's been posted in the last 2 years.)

When the authorities arrive, their first observation was:
"Male victim, dead on arrival. Surrounded by 53 bicycles."
How did he die?

*******This is a lateral thinking puzzle, and as such I will allow people to ask yes/no style questions to figure out the answer*******

crunchpatty
crunchpatty
Old Shoe

Sep-6-2006 18:38

*knows this one but wants to watch the yes/no fun...lurks lurkishly*

AraLives
AraLives
Battered Shoe

Sep-6-2006 18:43

Did his death involve falling?

biggie528
biggie528
Lucky Stiff

Sep-6-2006 18:51

he had a heart attack during a bike race?

*knows this is so lameass that crunch will rip me to bits*

Serges
Serges
Vigilante

Sep-6-2006 21:38

No, his death does not involve falling, nor did he have a heart attack during a bike race.

Crunch, PM me your answer and I'll let you know if you're actually right.

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