【正文】
m the left bank to the right, in order to decide which town should be blamed for the accident. But he could not remember, since he got drunk that night. Some time later, a car was crossing the bridge and broke an axle( 軸) because of the hole. Neither town paid any attention to the accident, as the traveler was not going from one to the other, but was merely passing through. The angry traveler got out of the car and asked why the hole was not mended. On hearing the reason, he declared, “ I’ ll buy this hole. Who’ s the owner? ” Both towns at once declared that they owned the hole. “ One or the other, whoever owns the hole must prove it. ” “ How shall we prove it? ” asked both sides. “ That’ s simple. Only the owner of the hole has the right to mend it. I’ ll buy the hole from whoever mends the bridge. ” People from both towns rushed to do the job while the traveler smoked a cigar and his driver changed the axle. They mended the bridge in no time and asked for the money for the hole. “ What hole? ” The traveler looked surprised. “ I can’ t see any hole. I’ ve been looking for a hole for several years now. I’ m prepared to pay a good price for it