A poor farmer is going to market with his faithful but hungry dog, two plump geese to sell, and three bags of corn. The farmer knows that unless he is right there, the dog will eat a goose or a goose will eat some of the corn. Traveling carefully, he avoids trouble until he comes to small river which he must ferry across. The ferry (actually a creaky old rowboat) is in such bad shape, he decides it will only hold him and any two of the six things he has with him. How can he get all of his possessions to market safely, and uneaten?