四    个    聪    明    的    兄    弟   

 那    是    很    久    以    前    的    事    了   ， 有    一    户    贫    穷    的    人    家   ， 夫    妻    俩    生    了    四    个    儿    子   ， 儿    子    长    大    后   ， 穷    人    想    让    他    们    学    点    本    事    以    摆    脱    贫    困   ， 他    对    儿    子    们    说   ：" 亲    爱    的    孩    子    们   ， 我    没    有    什    么    东    西    给    你    们   ， 必    须    要    你    们    自    己    到    这    个    世    界    去    闯    荡   ， 去    学    习   ， 自    己    掌    握    自    己    的    命    运   。 我    看    你    们    就    从    学    习    各    种    手    艺    开    始   ， 为    将    来    独    立    生    活    打    好    基    础   。" 于    是   ， 四    个    兄    弟    拿    着    手    杖   ， 挎    着    小    包   ， 告    别    父    亲   ， 一    起    出    门    拜    师    求    艺    去    了   。

 他    们    来    到    一    个    十    字    路    口   ， 不    同    方    向    的    四    条    路    分    别    通    向    不    同    的    地    区   ， 老    大    说    道   ：" 我    们    必    须    在    这    儿    分    手   ， 四    年    后    的    今    天    我    们    再    在    这    儿    相    会   。 这    期    间    大    家    要    靠    自    己    独    立    去    学    习    谋    生    的    本    领    了   。" 互    道    珍    重    之    后   ， 他    们    各    自    踏    上    了    不    同    的    旅    途   。

 老    大    和    弟    弟    们    分    手    后    便    抓    紧    时    间    赶    路   。 在    路    上   ， 他    遇    到    一    个    人    问    他    准    备    到    哪    里    去   ， 想    干    什    么   。 他    回    答    说   ：" 我    想    在    这    个    世    界    闯    荡    闯    荡   ， 学    一    门    手    艺    来    充    实    自    己   。" 那    人    说    道   ：" 你    就    跟    着    我    吧   ， 我    将    教    你    如    何    成    为    一    名    前    所    未    有    的    最    精    明    的    小    偷   。" 老    大    说    道   ：" 不   ！ 这    不    是    正    当    的    职    业   ， 靠    这    种    本    事    谋    生    最    终    都    免    不    了    要    被    绞    死   。" 那    人    解    释    说   ：" 嗨   ！ 你    不    必    担    心    什    么    绞    刑    架   ， 因    为    我    只    是    教    你    如    何    找    出    最    适    合    的    方    式    方    法    和    对    象   ， 取    到    别    人    得    不    到    的    东    西   ， 来    无    影   ， 去    无    踪   ， 让    别    人    找    不    着    你    的    踪    迹   。" 听    完    之    后   ， 年    青    人    被    说    服    了   ， 他    跟    着    这    位    师    傅    学    习   ， 很    快    表    现    了    他    的    天    赋   ， 只    要    是    他    想    得    到    的    东    西   ， 没    有    一    样    能    逃    过    他    的    手    心   。

 老    二    在    路    上    也    遇    到    一    个    人   ， 当    那    人    了    解    到    他    此    行    的    目    的    之    后   ， 就    问    他    想    学    什    么    本    领   ， 老    二    回    答    说   ：" 我    心    里    还    没    有    底    哩   。" 那    人    说    道   ：" 你    就    跟    着    我    学    做    一    名    占    星    学    家    吧   ， 这    是    一    种    崇    高    的    职    业   ， 因    为    当    你    了    解    了    星    象    后   ， 就    没    有    什    么    事    情    能    够    瞒    过    你    了   。" 一    席    话    令    他    非    常    高    兴   ， 老    二    便    在    他    那    位    老    师    的    教    导    下   ， 成    了    一    名    非    常    出    色    的    占    星    学    家   。 他    学    业    有    成    后   ， 他    准    备    告    别    老    师    回    家    去   。 老    师    给    了    他    一    个    望    远    镜   ， 说    道   ：" 用    这    架    望    远    镜   ， 你    能    看    清    天    上    和    地    上    所    有    的    东    西   ， 没    有    什    么    事    物    能    瞒    过    你   。"

 老    三    遇    到    的    是    一    个    猎    人   ， 他    跟    着    猎    人    学    到    了    各    种    打    猎    的    本    领   ， 成    为    一    个    极    有    能    耐    的    猎    手   。 当    他    离    开    师    傅    时   ， 师    傅    给    了    他    一    付    弓    箭   ， 并    告    诉    他    说   ：" 用    这    付    弓    箭   ， 无    论    你    想    射    什    么   ， 就    一    定    能    射    中    它   。"

 同    样   ， 小    儿    子    也    遇    到    一    个    人   ， 这    人    问    他    想    做    什    么   ， 并    问    他    说   ：" 你    愿    意    做    一    个    裁    缝    吗   ？" 小    儿    子    回    答    说   ：" 不   ， 不   ！ 裁    缝    一    天    到    晚    都    盘    腿    坐    在    那    儿   ， 拿    着    针    穿    来    穿    去   ， 提    着    熨    斗    推    来    推    去   。 那    工    作    不    适    合    我    来    做   。" 那    人    解    释    说    道   ：" 嗨   ！ 我    可    不    是    那    种    裁    缝   ， 跟    我    学    吧   ， 你    会    学    到    一    种    完    全    不    同    于    普    通    做    服    装    的    裁    缝    手    艺   。" 尽    管    他    还    没    有    完    全    了    解    这    人    的    手    艺    有    什    么    特    别    之    处   ， 好    奇    心    与    求    学    心    促    使    他    还    是    答    应    跟    他    去    学   ， 而    且   ， 学    会    了    他    的    全    部    本    领   。 离    别    师    傅    之    时   ， 师    傅    送    给    他    一    根    针    说   ：" 用    这    根    针   ， 你    能    把    任    何    东    西    缝    合    起    来   ， 从    软    的    鸡    蛋    到    坚    硬    的    钢    铁   ， 被    缝    合    后    真    可    以    说    是    天    衣    无    缝   ， 毫    无    破    绽   。"

 四    年    以    后   ， 到    了    他    们    约    定    的    日    子   ， 四    个    兄    弟    在    十    字    路    口    相    会    了   ， 他    们    欢    欢    喜    喜    地    互    道    离    别    之    情   ， 一    起    回    到    了    父    亲    的    家    里   ， 将    各    自    分    别    后    的    经    历   ， 学    到    了    什    么    手    艺   ， 都    告    诉    了    父    亲   ， 一    家    人    非    常    高    兴   。 一    天   ， 他    们    一    起    坐    在    屋    前    的    一    棵    非    常    高    大    的    树    下   ， 父    亲    说   ：" 我    想    考    考    你    们    每    一    个    人    所    学    到    的    本    领   。" 说    着    他    抬    头    向    树    上    望    去   ， 对    第    二    个    儿    子    说    道   ：" 在    这    棵    树    顶    上   ， 有    一    个    苍    头    燕    雀    的    巢   ， 你    告    诉    我    鸟    巢    里    有    几    个    鸟    蛋   。" 占    星    学    家    拿    出    他    的    望    远    镜    向    上    一    看   ， 说    道   ：" 五    个   。" 父    亲    转    过    头    对    大    儿    子    说   ：" 现    在    你    去    把    蛋    拿    下    来   ， 但    不    能    惊    动    趴    在    鸟    蛋    上    正    在    孵    化    的    雌    鸟   。" 于    是    精    明    灵    巧    的    小    偷    爬    上    树    从    鸟    的    身    子    下    面    把    五    个    鸟    蛋    掏    下    来    给    了    他    父    亲   ， 那    只    雌    鸟    既    没    有    看    见   ， 也    没    有    感    觉    到    鸟    蛋    给    人    掏    走    了   ， 仍    然    静    静    地    趴    在    巢    内   。 父    亲    拿    着    五    个    鸟    蛋    在    桌    子    的    每    个    角    上    放    了    一    个   ， 余    下    的    一    个    放    在    了    桌    子    的    中    间   ， 对    猎    手    说   ：" 你    要    一    箭    把    所    有    的    鸟    蛋    都    击    成    两    半   。" 猎    手    取    弓    在    手   ， 只    一    箭    就    把    所    有    的    鸟    蛋    按    他    父    亲    的    要    求    射    成    了    两    半   。 最    后   ， 父    亲    对    最    小    的    裁    缝    儿    子    说   ：" 你    把    鸟    蛋    和    蛋    里    面    的    小    鸟    都    缝    好   ， 不    要    让    它    们    有    任    何    受    到    伤    害    的    痕    迹    留    下   。" 裁    缝    拿    出    针   ， 按    父    亲    的    要    求    把    蛋    都    缝    好    了   。 接    着   ， 妙    手    神    偷    把    鸟    蛋    又    放    回    鸟    巢    内    雌    鸟    的    下    面   ， 那    鸟    竟    毫    不    知    晓   ， 好    像    它    腹    下    的    蛋    不    曾    被    动    过    一    般   ， 仍    在    继    续    孵    着    那    些    蛋   。 几    天    以    后   ， 小    鸟    出    壳    时   ， 它    们    的    脖    颈    由    裁    缝    缝    合    的    地    方    仅    只    有    一    点    点    淡    红    色    的    条    纹   。

 老    父    亲    对    四    个    儿    子    的    表    演    很    满    意   ， 说    道   ：" 孩    子    们   ， 你    们    做    得    很    好   ！ 你    们    充    分    利    用    了    你    们    自    己    的    宝    贵    的    时    间   ， 学    到    了    很    有    价    值    的    本    领   ， 到    底    哪    一    项    本    领    更    有    价    值   ， 我    不    能    作    出    定    论   ， 要    是    有    机    会   ， 就    让    时    间    为    你    们    的    技    能    作    出    评    价    吧   ！"

 过    了    不    久   ， 这    个    国    家    出    了    一    个    大    乱    子   。 国    王    的    女    儿    被    一    条    巨    龙    抓    走    了   ， 国    王    为    失    去    女    儿    日    夜    悲    伤    不    已   ， 发    出    通    告    说   ： 无    论    谁    把    他    的    女    儿    救    了    回    来   ， 就    将    女    儿    许    配    给    他    作    为    妻    子   。

 四    个    兄    弟    互    相    一    商    量   ， 说    道   ：" 我    们    的    机    会    来    了   ， 让    我    们    各    展    所    能    吧   。" 他    们    都    愿    意    试    一    试   ， 看    自    己    是    否    能    够    把    公    主    救    回    来   。 占    星    学    家    老    二    说   ：" 我    很    快    就    能    找    出    她    在    哪    儿    了   。" 说    着   ， 他    拿    起    望    远    镜    一    看   ， 叫    道   ：" 我    看    到    她    了   ， 她    正    坐    在    很    远    的    大    海    中    的    一    块    礁    石    上   ， 我    还    看    见    那    条    龙    就    在    她    身    边    守    卫    着   。" 为    了    他    们    兄    弟    能    到    达    那    儿   ， 他    找    国    王    配    备    了    一    条    船    出    海    了   。 按    照    老    二    的    指    点   ， 船    在    海    上    航    行    很    久    之    后   ， 到    达    了    礁    石    旁   。 正    和    老    二    说    的    一    样   ， 他    们    发    现    公    主    正    坐    在    礁    石    上   ， 那    条    龙    躺    在    她    身    边    睡    觉   ， 龙    头    就    枕    在    公    主    的    大    腿    上   。 猎    人    说   ：" 我    不    敢    射    杀    那    条    龙   ， 因    为    我    怕    会    把    年    青    美    丽    的    公    主    也    一    起    射    死   。" 神    偷    说    道   ：" 就    让    我    来    试    一    试    我    的    技    能    吧   ！" 说    完   ， 他    跳    上    礁    石   ， 从    龙    的    头    下    把    公    主    偷    偷    移    了    出    来   。 他    的    手    法    又    快    又    轻   ， 龙    一    点    也    不    知    道   ， 仍    然    在    那    里    鼾    声    大    作   。

 救    出    公    主    后   ， 他    们    非    常    高    兴   ， 急    忙    带    着    她    上    船    返    航   。 不    久    那    条    龙    醒    来    发    现    公    主    不    见    了   ， 马    上    腾    在    空    中   ， 在    他    们    的    后    面    大    声    咆    哮    追    了    过    来   。 当    飞    到    船    的    上    空    时   ， 它    张    牙    舞    爪    向    他    们    猛    扑    了    下    来   。 说    时    迟    那    时    快   ， 猎    人    举    起    弓    箭   ， 一    箭    射    去   ， 正    好    射    中    它    的    心    脏   ， 龙    掉    下    来    死    去    了   。 可    他    们    仍    未    摆    脱    危    险   ， 因    为    那    条    巨    龙    的    庞    大    尸    体    正    好    落    在    船    上   ， 把    整    条    船    给    打    碎    了   。 他    们    全    都    掉    到    了    无    边    无    际    的    大    海    里   ， 不    得    不    抓    着    几    块    船    板    茫    然    地    漂    游   。 这    时   ， 裁    缝    拿    出    他    的    针   ， 只    几    下    就    把    一    些    船    板    缝    在    一    起    了   ， 他    爬    在    上    面   ， 把    四    下    漂    浮    的    碎    块    统    统    捞    起    来   ， 将    它    们    全    部    缝    合    在    一    起   ， 很    快    使    船    恢    复    了    原    貌   。 接    着   ， 他    们    兄    弟    几    个    和    公    主    都    上    了    船   ， 有    说    有    笑    地    继    续    向    目    的    地    航    行   ， 一    路    顺    风   ， 他    们    很    快    就    安    全    地    回    到    了    自    己    的    家    园   。

 当    他    们    把    公    主    带    回    王    宫    交    给    她    父    亲    时   ， 国    王    大    喜    过    望   ， 对    他    们    四    兄    弟    说   ：" 你    们    中    的    一    个    将    和    公    主    结    婚   ， 但    必    须    由    你    们    自    己    确    定    是    哪    一    位   。" 这    一    来   ， 他    们    兄    弟    之    间    引    起    了    一    场    争    论   。 占    星    学    家    说   ：" 如    果    不    是    我    找    出    公    主    在    哪    里   ， 你    们    的    本    领    都    毫    无    用    处   ， 因    此   ， 公    主    应    该    属    于    我   。" 妙    手    神    偷    说   ：" 如    果    不    是    我    把    公    主    从    龙    头    下    偷    出    来   ， 你    看    到    她    又    有    什    么    用    呢   ？ 所    以    说   ， 公    主    应    该    是    属    于    我    的   。" 猎    手    说   ：" 不    对   ， 她    应    该    是    我    的   ， 如    果    不    是    我    把    龙    射    死   ， 它    就    会    把    你    们    和    公    主    都    撕    成    碎    块   。" 裁    缝    说   ：" 如    果    不    是    我    把    船    再    缝    好    的    话   ， 你    们    都    会    被    淹    死   ， 因    此   ， 她    应    该    是    我    的    人    了   。" 国    王    听    了    他    们    的    争    论    说    道   ：" 你    们    每    一    个    人    都    有    道    理   ， 但    你    们    不    能    够    都    娶    我    的    女    儿   ， 最    好    的    办    法    是    你    们    谁    也    不    娶    我    的    女    儿   。 作    为    对    你    们    的    回    报   ， 我    就    把    王    国    的    一    部    分    划    给    你    们   。" 四    个    兄    弟    都    认    为    这    比    互    相    争    斗    要    好    得    多   ， 就    同    意    了    这    个    方    案   。

 于    是   ， 国    王    履    行    了    他    自    己    的    诺    言   ， 划    给    了    他    们    每    人    一    部    分    土    地   。 四    个    兄    弟    过    上    了    幸    福    的    生    活   ， 他    们    对    自    己    的    父    亲    非    常    孝    顺   ， 使    他    也    享    受    到    了    晚    年    的    快    乐   。

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