The Lady of the Barge and Other Stories by W. W. Jacobs, Classics, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Sea Stories

The story introduces a mysterious monkey's paw that holds the power to grant three wishes, as explained by a sergeant-major to the curious White family. This seemingly ordinary object, dried and mummified, carries a dark warning about the consequences of tampering with fate. The sergeant-major recounts that an ancient fakir placed a spell on the paw to illustrate how meddling with destiny brings sorrow. As the family learns about its potential, the tension builds around the implications of their desires and the unforeseen repercussions that may follow.