During the reign of King Krakus, the city of Krakow's legendary founder, each day an evil dragon would beat a path of destruction across the countryside, killing the civilians, pillaging their homes and devouring their livestock. The dragon especially enjoyed eating young maidens, and could only be appeased if the townsfolk left a young girl in front of its cave at the base of the Wawel once a month.

The King certainly wanted to put a stop to the dragon, but his bravest knights fell to its fiery breath. Every girl in the city was eventually sacrificed except one, the King's daughter Wanda. In desperation, the King promised his beautiful daughter's hand in marriage to anyone who could defeat the dragon. Great warriors from near and far fought for the prize and failed.

One day a poor cobbler's apprentice named Skuba accepted the challenge. He stuffed a lamb with sulphur and set it outside the dragon's cave. The dragon ate it and soon became incredibly thirsty. He turned to the Vistula River for relief and drank and drank. But no amount of water could quench his aching stomach, and after swelling up from drinking half the Wisla (Vistula) River, he exploded. Skuba married the King's daughter as promised, and they lived happily ever after.