Once Janosik's father had to go to Liptowo to buy a few mules
on the market. He took money and started to saying goodbye his
family.
-Be aware of highwaymen, father. You might return with empty
pockets instead of mules - Janosik warned his father.
-Don't frighten me with the highwaymen - answered his father -
I'll be all right.
And he left. After time he got in a forrest with big bushes and
trees. He smiled as he thought about Janosik's warnings.
But a moment later he was sorry for ignoring it - a highwayman
standing behind a big boulder jumped out and barred his way.
-Give me your money you have with you, otherwise I'll take them
with your life - shouted the highwayman.
The scared man prefered to lose his money rather than his life.
The highwayman took the money and dissapeared in the forrest. The
said host came back home. -You were right, my son - sighed
Janosik's father. - A highwayman robbed my all money. I've
almoust died.
-But you've said that no highwayman was frightening to you -
Janosik was joking.
-I wouldn't be aware of an ordinar highwayman and I wouldn't give
him my money. But that one was unussual. He was very high and big
as a beer!
-What are you saying - asked amased Janosik. - He must have been
a bit similar to me.
-Nonsense - answered his father.
-Maybe you're wrong. Look!
And Janosik jumped out dressed like a highwayman.
-Now you're a bit similar to him. - said aased father.
-Not similar but the same. - laughed Janosik - It was me who
robbed you! - and he gave back the money to his father.
-You look like a real highwayman - said the father.
-And I'll soon become a highwayman - answered Janosik.
And he became. Few days later he left onto the mountains to meet
with other highwaymen. He had to travel days and nights to meet
them. One night he had a strange dream. Three mountain goddesses
appeared and sais: -He'll become a highwayman, który u jednych
wdzięczność, u innych strach budzić będzie. Let's give him,
something he'll mostly need.
-I'll give him ciupaga. -said the first one - when he has an
impact on it he'll jump three miles.
-I'll give him a shirt. No bullet will pierce it - said the
second goddess.
-And I'll give a belt. No one will defeat him when he'll put it
on - said the third one.
When Janosik woke up, he couldn't believe. The goddess
disappeared but their gifts where still there. Janosik continued
his yourney. He soon met the highwaymen. He asked them if he
could join them. They told him to show them he was strong. The
firs task was to fight and bit the strongest one. With help of
Janosik's belt he managed bit his opponent. Than he was to jump
over the tallest one. Thanks to his ciupaga he jumped so high
that he even didn't touch the highwayman's hat.
The highwaymen amased with Janosik's strangth and his fitness
allowed Janosik to join them. He was a very brave and strong
highwayman. He was famous because he robbed the rich and gave. He
never would hurt someone poor. In fact he sometimes gave the
robbed money to the poor. But once while dancing he didn't have
the belt, ciupaga, and the shirt with him. The soldiers came for
him. He had no chances and he was arrested, and in Liptowo hanged
up. He died smoking his favourite pipe. But he's still alive in
legends and songs in peoples minds.