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 the
princess that she had expressed a wish to see him, went at once
to make known his arrival. And directly the princess beheld him
her heart was set on him, and she begged him to stay with her,
and in return promised that he should never grow old, neither
should his beauty fade. 'Is not that reward enough?' she asked,
smiling, looking all the while as fair as the sun itself. And
Uraschimataro said 'Yes,' and so he stayed there. For how long?
That he only knew later.