The Pilot and the Hunters

Thomas piloted a small airplane and often sold his services to hunters in the Canadian wilderness. One season, he was approached by jeb and Jake, two moose hunters. Thomas took the duo into the wild.

When Thomas returned to fetch his clients, he studies their gear and two gigantic moose. "I'm sorry, fellas," he told them, "I can't fly out of here with two of you, all your gears, and those two Bullwinkles."

"Why not?" Jeb asked.

"Because the load will be too heavy for my plane. It will never get off the ground."

"I understand this," Jake said, exasperated. "Last year each of us got a moose, and the pilot was willing to load everything on his plane."

"Well," Thomas said tentatively, "I guess if the pilot did last yearm, uh, I can too."

They loaded up the plane, and Thomas fired the engines. The pontoon plane rose slowly and unsteadily. As it approached a mountain, it became apparent to Thomas that he would never clear this obstacle. Sure enough, the plane crushed partway up the mountain.

Fortunately, no one was hurt. As the trio crawled from the wreckage, Jeb asked, "Where are we, Jake?"

Jake surveyed the area, "Oh, about a mile farther than we got last year. Hey, Thomas, you're a better pilot that the last guy we had!"

As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Ecclesiastes 10:1