gold, would not be rich. Good-bye.' Away they sailed, and the
ladies stretched out their hands, but weren't able to say a word.

Well, they weren't crossing the lake while a cat 'ud be lickin'
her ear, and the poor men couldn't stir hand or foot to follow
them. They saw Seven Inches handing the three princesses out of
the boat, and letting them down by a basket into a draw-well, but
king nor princes ever saw an opening before in the same place.
When the last lady was out of sight, the men found the strength
in their arms and legs again. Round the lake they ran, and never
drew rein till they came to the well and windlass; and there was
the silk rope rolled on the axle, and the nice white basket
hanging to it. 'Let me down,' says the youngest prince. 'I'll die
or recover them again.' 'No,' says the second daughter's
sweetheart, 'it is my turn first.' And says the other, 'I am the
eldest.' So they gave way to him, and in he got into the basket,
and down they let him. First they lost sight of him, and then,
after winding off a hundred perches of the silk rope, it
slackened, and they stopped turning. They waited two hours, and
then they went to dinner, because there was no pull made at the
rope.

Guards were set till next morning, and then down went the second
prince, and sure enough, the youngest of all got himself let down
on the third day. He went down perches and perches, while it was
as dark about him as if he was in a big pot with a cover on. At
last he saw a glimmer far down, and in a short time he felt the
ground. Out he came from the big lime-kiln, and, lo! and behold
you, there was a wood, and green fields, and a castle in a lawn,
and a bright sky over all. 'It's in Tir-na-n-Oge I am,' says he.