Polish Story
Long ago there was a prince named Krak living in Kraków. He lived in the castle on the top of Wawel hill close to the river Vistula.
Krak was very worried because sheep, cows and even people had started to go missing on the banks of the Vistula. He posted some soldiers to stand guard and hoped that they would catch the perpetrator but instead they returned to the castle with a terrible story. One of them had seen a horrible fire-breathing dragon come out of the cave which was under the castle. Krak called his advisors immediately and they decided that the best course of action would be to send the best knights in the country to kill him.
The following day the best knight in the land entered the cave as everyone watched from a safe distance. Everyone waited with baited breath for his return but he never came out of the cave. The next knight thought he would try to kill the dragon but he didn’t return either. Another two knights entered the cave but as before they never came out.
Krak was very worried. He sent messengers around the country to spread the word that the man who would kill the dragon could marry his daughter and inherit his kingdom. Soon the streets of Kraków were thronged with men hoping to kill the dragon. Each man tried and failed. The people of Kraków were losing hope. Krak came to the conclusion that he would have to kill the dragon himself.
The following morning he put on his armour and was just about to leave the castle when a young tailor turned up demanding to speak to him. The tailor explained his plan to Krak. It sounded like a clever plan so Krak told his servants to give the tailor everything he needed.
First the tailor sewed up a sheep skin. He filled the sheep skin with sulphur. He sneaked up to the mouth of the cave and left it there for the dragon to find. When the dragon found it he swallowed it immediately. The sulphur started burning a hole in his stomach. He started drinking the river water to quell the pain in his stomach and eventually drank so much of it that he exploded.
The people of Kraków were delighted and celebrated on the street. The young tailor and Krak’s daughter were married later that day and they had a huge party to celebrate.
Krak was very worried because sheep, cows and even people had started to go missing on the banks of the Vistula. He posted some soldiers to stand guard and hoped that they would catch the perpetrator but instead they returned to the castle with a terrible story. One of them had seen a horrible fire-breathing dragon come out of the cave which was under the castle. Krak called his advisors immediately and they decided that the best course of action would be to send the best knights in the country to kill him.
The following day the best knight in the land entered the cave as everyone watched from a safe distance. Everyone waited with baited breath for his return but he never came out of the cave. The next knight thought he would try to kill the dragon but he didn’t return either. Another two knights entered the cave but as before they never came out.
Krak was very worried. He sent messengers around the country to spread the word that the man who would kill the dragon could marry his daughter and inherit his kingdom. Soon the streets of Kraków were thronged with men hoping to kill the dragon. Each man tried and failed. The people of Kraków were losing hope. Krak came to the conclusion that he would have to kill the dragon himself.
The following morning he put on his armour and was just about to leave the castle when a young tailor turned up demanding to speak to him. The tailor explained his plan to Krak. It sounded like a clever plan so Krak told his servants to give the tailor everything he needed.
First the tailor sewed up a sheep skin. He filled the sheep skin with sulphur. He sneaked up to the mouth of the cave and left it there for the dragon to find. When the dragon found it he swallowed it immediately. The sulphur started burning a hole in his stomach. He started drinking the river water to quell the pain in his stomach and eventually drank so much of it that he exploded.
The people of Kraków were delighted and celebrated on the street. The young tailor and Krak’s daughter were married later that day and they had a huge party to celebrate.