The Failed Expedition

An expedition required supplies from three villages along the route.

The first village provided grain. The second provided water skins. The third had been raided and had nothing.

The expedition leader had a choice: proceed without full supplies and risk disaster, or return what had been gathered and start over.

He returned the grain. He returned the water skins. He waited until all three villages could provide.

"You've wasted a season," his sponsor said.

"I've preserved an expedition."