The school had a big theatre, and sometimes actors came to act plays there for the boys. One evening, all the boys were sitting in the hall, watching a story about a beautiful princess and a handsome prince. A very big and very terrible bear was damaging the crops and killing the people in the princess's country, and her father had promised that anyone who killed the bear could marry the beautiful princess and become king of the country when he died. The prince had come to try to kill the bear and marry the princess. One day he was walking through a forest looking for the bear, when he saw a small old woman who was carrying a very heavy bag. He helped her with it, and when they reached her house, she said, 'Young man, you have helped me, so I will help you. Here is a sword. With it you can kill anything. But be very careful with it. If you put it down on the ground even for a moment, terrible things will happen.' The prince thanks the old woman, took the sword and continued his journey, feeling very happy. But the sword was very big and heavy, and the prince got more and more tired as he walked on through forests and across rivers and mountains. At last he turned to the boys in the audience and said in a weak voice, 'I'm very tired. Can I put the sword down?' 'No, no,' shouted the boys. 'If you do, something terrible will happen! Go on and kill the bear! Fight! Don't put the sword down!' But when they had all finished shouting, one voice was heard clearly. 'Yes, yes!' it said. 'Put the sword down! Let's see what terrible things will happen.