Formerly, the king Krak reigned in Krakow. His castle stood near the Vistula, on the Wawel Hill and the king ruled with great wisdom. All went well until one day a drafon came and sat at the foot of the hill. It was terrifying. When he flew, his shadow covered the entire city and scared fell upon the inhabitants. When he roared, the echo sounded in the rocks of the hill and walls of the houses trembled. When he walked, you could feel it, even in the remotest villages.

The problem with the dragon was so concerned that the king should lose sleep. Every day, they had to bring a cow and let it in the front entrance of the cave where the sleeping dragon was. Otherwise, it seized and devoured the inhabitants of Krakow. The situation became increasingly severe. Residents should take a longer route to avoid the dragon, but there was no guarantee about their safety as the dragon attacked the village when he was hungry.

The king summoned the bravest knights of his kingdom and he announced that he would offer his daughter's hand to those who would have defeated the dragon. But none of them would have been able to defeat the beast. Many ended up with serious injuries and some perished, because the skin of the dragon was harder than an armor and its teeth were sharper than the swords of the knights.

One day, when the king had no hope left, a little and simple shoemaker came and said that he was able to defeat the dragon. The whole court fell at laugh, but the king was so desperate that he gave his agreement. The shoemaker was not stupid and he devised a good plan. He killed a fine sheep. He stuffed it with sulfur and sewed it with great care to make it invisible. At the dawn of day, the shoemaker came with the stuffed sheep at the dragon and he left it at the front door. When the dragon awoke, he had a great hunger, as always. He went out for its cow. When he found the sheep, without thinking a very long time, he devoured it. At that time, he felt an incredible thirst. He ran to the Vistula and started drinking. He drank and drank and drank... Suddenly, in the town they heard a loud explosion. it was the dragon which exploded!

***

Joy reigned in Krakow. The king held a large wedding party for his daughter and the shoemaker who became a knight. The princess and the knight-shoemaker lived happily a very long time.

THE END

 Renata