, 'what good can
I do you? I am so young and small, and I would so gladly live a little
longer. Be merciful and set me free, and I shall know how to prove my
gratitude.'

Now Uraschimataro was very good-natured, and besides, he could never
bear to say no, so he picked up the turtle, and put it back into the
sea.

Years flew by, and every morning Uraschimataro sailed his boat into the
deep sea. But one day as he was making for a little bay between some
rocks, there arose a fierce whirlwind, which shattered his boat to
pieces, and she was sucked under by the waves. Uraschimataro himself
very nearly shared the same fate. But he was a powerful swimmer, and
struggled hard to reach the shore. Then he saw a large turtle coming
towards him, and above the howling of the storm he heard what it said:
'I am the turtle whose life you once saved. I will now pay my debt and
show my gratitude. The land is still far distant, and without my help
you would never get there. Climb on my back, and I will take you where
you will.' Uraschimataro did not wait to be asked twice, and thankfully
accepted his friend's help. But scarcely was he seated firmly on the
shell, when the turtle proposed that they should not return to the shore
at once, but go under the sea, and look at some of the wonders that lay
hidden there.

Uraschimataro agreed willingly, and in another moment they were deep,
deep down, with fathoms of blue water above their heads. Oh, how quickly
they darted through the still, warm sea! The young man held tight, and
marvelled where they were going and how long they were to travel, but
for three days they rushed on, till at last the turtle stopped before
a splendid palace, shining with gold and silver, crystal and precious
stones, and decked here and there with branches of pale pink coral and
glittering pearls. But if Uraschimataro was astonished at the beauty of
the outside, he was struck dumb at the sight of the hall within, which
was lighted by the blaze of fish scales.

'Where have you brought me?' he asked his guide in a low voice.

'To the palace of Ringu, the house of the sea god, whose subjects we all
are,' answered the turtle. 'I am the first waiting maid of his daughter,
the lovely princess Otohime, whom you will shortly see.'

Uraschimataro was still so puzzled with the adventures that had befallen
him, that he waited in a dazed condition for what would happen next. But
the turtle, who had talked so much of him to th