One summer night, when Tenali Ramakrishna and his wife were about to sleep, he

heard a rustling sound of leaves coming from outside.

There was not even a slightest breeze blowing at the time, so he presumed that
there were some thieves hiding in the bushes. He figured that they must be planning
to rob his house in the night.

He thought of a plan and said to his wife, My dear, I have heard that some
notorious thieves are on the loose in our neighborhood. So, lets hide all the
jewellery and money that we have in the well.

A little later, Tenali ramakrishna and his wife came out of the house carrying a
big trunk, and dropped it into the well. Then they went back inside the house, and
pretended to be asleep.

The thieves waited for a while and then started drawing water from the well.

They hoped to empty the well and get the treasure. The thieves kept drawing out
water the entire night. Towards daybreak, they managed to pull out the trunk, and
when they opened it, they were extremely shocked and disappointed to see only some
big stones in it.

They understood that it was Tenali ramakrishnas plan to outsmart them. Just then,
Tenali ramakrishna came out of his house and said, Thank you friends, for watering
my plants. I must pay you for your labour.

Hearing this, the thieves fell at Tenalis feet for forgiveness. They promised not
to steal or rob anyone ever again. Tenali decides to let them go.