Long ago, when the king of Krak ruled the Polish lands, a dragon appeared in Krakow. It was a huge animal, with green skin, a long tail and mouth full of sharp teeth. The dragon settled in the pit under the castle and demanded that a cow sacrifice be offered to him once a week. If his craving was not met, he would kidnap people.

Pale fear fell on the inhabitants of Krakow, but there were a few daredevils who claimed they would defeat the dragon. Unfortunately, none of them came back from the trip to the monster's cavity. Both the king and the subjects have already lost hope to the rescue. Every week the cattle herds were shrinking, because the dragon always required the most-expensive pieces. It worried what would happen when all the cows had already eaten.

When everything seemed to be lost and the people of Krakow were waiting for destruction, a poor shoemaker appeared at the court of Krak.

"My Lord, I think I am able to defeat the tormenting dragon," he said to the king, bowing low.

The laughter of the knights resounded in the royal hall.

- Look him, the daredevil was found.

- You do not know that no one can defeat a dragon?

- He has already killed many outstanding warriors! How can you compare with them?

However, Krak was a wise ruler and he knew that one could not waste any chance of freeing himself from a dangerous beast.

- Good, shoemaker. Defeat the dragon and you will be rewarded with great reward.

Szewczyk bowed and walked away, devising his plan. Soon everything was ready. He killed the most-loved ram he could find, and then he stuffed it with sulfur and carefully stowed it. He threw him on his back and went towards the dragon's mouth. As quietly as he could, he sneaked into the entrance, threw a stuffed ram and fled. Soon the dragon came out of the grotto, lured by the smell of fresh meat and noticing the ram, immediately devoured it.

Sulfur hidden in the animal immediately began to work, causing the dragon a huge desire. He threw himself in the direction of the Vistula and drank, drank, drank, drank ... It seemed like a moment and he would drink the entire Vistula! And then there was a huge bang. The dragon drank so much water that it just burst. The ingenious boy became the hero of the whole city, and the king rewarded him with great reward.

In Krakow, to this day, at the foot of the Wawel Castle, you can see the Dragon's Den and the fire-breathing figure of the Wawel dragon, commemorating the heroic deed of the shoemaker.

THE END