Hercules and the Wagoner

Part One · Stuck in the Mud

A wagoner was driving his horses down a muddy lane. His wagon was heaped high with sacks of grain.

It had rained for three days. The lane was as soft as porridge.

Then the wheels sank into the mud. They went down deep, up to their middles, and stuck.

The horses pulled. The wagoner shouted. The wagon did not move one inch.

He sat on a rock and groaned. Then he thought of Hercules, the strongest man alive.

"Hercules!" he called. "Hercules! Please come and lift my wagon out of the mud!"

All at once, a big man stood in the lane. He had arms like tree trunks. His face was stern but kind.

"I am Hercules," he said. "You called me. But what have you done to help yourself?"

"I have been sitting here calling," said the wagoner. He looked down at his boots.

"That is not enough," said Hercules. "Get up and look at the wheels. Dig the mud away with a spade."

The wagoner dug. He packed stones into the ruts. He laid branches in front of the wheels.

"Now put your shoulder to the wheel," said Hercules. "And call to your horses."

The wagoner pushed, and the horses pulled. Hercules gave one small push with his big hand. The wagon rolled out of the mud.

The wagoner was muddy up to his knees, and smiling. "I did most of that myself," he said.

"You did," said Hercules with a laugh. "That is how it works." Then he waved goodbye and walked off down the lane.