Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/251 - Nine Men in a Trench

by : $251$

 * Nine Men in a Trench
 * Here are nine men in a trench.


 * Dudeney-Puzzles-and-Curious-Problems-251.png


 * No. $1$ is the sergeant, who wishes to place himself at the other end of the line -- at point $1$ --
 * all the other men returning to their proper places at present.
 * There is no room to pass in the trench, and for a man to climb over another would be a dangerous exposure.
 * But it is not difficult with these three recesses, each of which will hold a man.
 * How is it to be done with the fewest possible moves?
 * A man may go any distance that is possible in a move.