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How Wise Were the Old Men
49
would be killed, and alas for it. Ai yu. The gate was closed for the night. It would not be opened till morning came. No ten bags of gold could open it before the morning dawned. Not even a royal order could open it.
The warden of the gate slept peacefully.
"Cockadoodledoo."
The warden turned in his quilt.
"Cockadoodledoo."
The warden opened his eyes. "Can it be so late?"
‘Cockadoodledoo."
"Heigho. Morning already—and—what a noisy fowl."
"Cockadoodledoo."
"Yes, it must be morning. Time to open the gate, so that the early caravans can pass."
‘Cockadoodledoo."
The key clicked in the lock. The heavy hinges groaned.
Clatter, clatter of hoofs that were urged.
"How wise were the old men of the village," murmured Meng Hu. "They said that
