Once upon a time in a certain town lived a young man who owed a lot of money to a money-lender. But the young man, who was in fact a vagabond, neither paid back the capital nor any interest to the money-lender.
One day the money-lender confronted him and demanded his money then and there. “Pay me or I will straight drag you to the judge’s house!” threatened the money-lender and he tried to catch hold of the vagabond.
The vagabond began to run. The money-lender chased him. There was a race. The vagabond soon climbed the roof of a deserted house, but the moneylender too was up there following him. The vagabond jumped down and in the process injured an old hawker. The hawker’s son, in his fury, tried to stop him. Failing, he too chased him.
Now the vagabond was being pursued by two fellows. He was tired and he was about to fall down when he found a donkey. He caught hold of its tail in order to balance himself. But the terrified donkey took such a forceful jump that its tail remained in the vagabond’s hand while it escaped.
Throwing the tail away, the vagabond resumed running, now followed by three persons as the owner of the donkey joined the money-lender and the hawker’s son.
Running like a racehorse, the vagabond dashed into a mansion. And whose mansion it should be but the judge’s! Just then the judge was receiving a purse from the notorious smuggler of the town. He was surprised at the sudden intrusion by the vagabond.
“How can I help you?” asked the nervous judge.
“Save this innocent man from his cruel chaser, sir!” said the vagabond and he added, “Never believe that I have seen what you were doing.”
The judge appeared at his gate. The first to reach there was the money-lender. Sweating and panting, he complained to the judge about the vagabond’s default in paying back his debt.
“Pay a fine of a hundred mohurs!” said the judge. “Or you’ll forfeit your license for your business.”
“Fine? To be paid by me?” asked the puzzled moneylender.
“By who else? Haven’t you scared this young man to near death? Haven’t you driven him into my house scaring me?” shouted the judge.
The money-lender paid up the fine and left. The next to complain was the hawker’s son.
“Let the young man stand below the same house. You can fall on him from the roof injuring him,” said the judge.
“Sir, what if I injure myself?” asked the surprised fellow.
“How dare you question my judgement? Pay a fine of a hundred mohurs!” said the judge, “or you will be arrested.”
The hawker’s son paid up the fine.
“The next?” asked the judge.
The owner of the donkey spoke up, “No sir, I have no complaint. In fact, my donkey had never any tail!” And he retreated.
