Ah yes - 'Think Hard, Boatman' is interesting as it's based on a popular puzzle. Other puzzle-based stories include 'Sly-One's Puzzle' and 'An Old Puzzle Story'.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
I've read other variations on that puzzle. Most often it's a fox, chicken and a bag of grain. Either way the solution's always the same.
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
Oh yes, I've seen that puzzle in a few other places too (though not told with anywhere near as much flair as Enid does here). One variation I remember was from a puzzle and activity book with a dinosaur theme — in this version, you as the reader have travelled to the age of dinosaurs and have to bring back a Tyrannosaurus, a Triceratops and a prehistoric fern across the river to your time machine!!
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
Very high stakes there! Were there big cages involved or was the T-rex just trusted not to eat you?
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
The rather short rendition of the puzzle didn't explain that part — it just said something like "You have caught a Tyrannosaurus Rex (don't ask me how!)"
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
Ah, well, if he's a caught T-rex as opposed to free-range I imagine you'd be OK.
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
It's still something I'd rather not try for myself!!
Society Member
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
