The Goat, the Sheep, and the King's Yam

The Goat and the Sheep were accused of stealing yams from the king's barn. Both pleaded innocent. The king consulted a diviner, who suggested a trial by ordeal. "A magical pot of water has been placed on the fire," the diviner announced. "The innocent can drink the boiling water without harm, but the guilty will be scalded." The Sheep, who was truly innocent, went first. He was afraid but trusted in his innocence. He drank the boiling water and was completely unharmed. Then came the Goat, who was the real thief. Knowing he would be scalded, he thought of a trick. He began to sing and dance, praising the king's wisdom and the diviner's power. He danced closer and closer to the pot, and then, with a great flourish, he "accidentally" kicked the pot over, spilling all the water. "Oh, clumsy me!" he cried. Though he had avoided the ordeal, his trick was too obvious. The elders saw his guilt in his desperation to avoid the test and he was punished accordingly. The story teaches that a guilty conscience will always reveal itself, and cleverness cannot hide the truth forever.