Brain Teasers
The King's Ruby...
The aging king is at Death's door. But, alas, he has no heir to follow in his noble steps. He decides a test will ensure that only the wisest subject in his kingdom will take the throne after his eventual passing. The test is simple: he places a 100 carat ruby in a golden chalice in the center of a 20 foot by 20 foot tapestry. The next ruler and successor to the throne must grasp the ruby from the chalice with his bare hand without suspending from the ceiling or stepping on the tapestry. Three days pass as nobleman after nobleman fails miserably to retrieve the ruby from its golden perch. On the fourth day, as the kingdom nobility looked on in shock and bewilderment, a sole young peasant boy grasped the ruby from the shimmering chalice without so much as his shadow gracing the tapestry. Their new king was chosen. How did he do it?
Hint
Don't quit now, you're on a roll!Answer
The noblemen looked on in amazement as the peasant, starting from one end of the long stretch of tapestry, slowly and neatly rolled the fabric until eventually, sitting just inches away, his bare hand grasped the fiery ruby and the boy became king!Hide Hint Show Hint Hide Answer Show Answer
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