He gave a hard pull and got it up into his boat. Then he found that it was a big tortoise with such a funny old wrinkled face that he burst out laughing when he saw it.
In Japan a tortoise lives a thousand years, so Urashima thought it would be a shame to kill this funny old fellow, when he might have so long to live. Besides, a small fish would suit him just as well for dinner, so he threw the tortoise back into the sea, and meant to go on fishing.
But somehow the air seemed too heavy and drowsy, just as it does on a summer’s day, and Urashima fell asleep.
While he was sleeping a beautiful maiden rose out of the water and got into the boat with him. Urashima waked, and when he saw her he thought she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
The maiden spoke to him. “Urashima,” she said, “you thought you caught a tortoise a little while ago, but it was really me. My father had sent me in disguise to see if you were a good, kind boy.
“We know now that you are kind-hearted, as you spared the life of the old tortoise. So I am going to take you with me to the Dragon Palace, where my father, the Sea King, and I live. There you shall marry me, and we shall be very happy.”
I AM GOING TO TAKE YOU WITH ME TO THE DRAGON PALACE.
Urashima gladly consented, and they floated away till they came to a wonderful palace at the bottom of the sea.
This palace was all built of the most beautiful pink and white coral, and was studded with diamonds and pearls.