The Pink Fairy Book | Page 9

sake they were ready to work hard
all day long, and never felt tired or discontented with their lot. This
son's name was Uraschimataro, which means in Japanese, 'Son of the
island,' and he was a fine well-grown youth and a good fisherman,
minding neither wind nor weather. Not the bravest sailor in the whole
village dared venture so far out to sea as Uraschimataro, and many a
time the neighbours used to shake their heads and say to his parents, 'If
your son goes on being so rash, one day he will try his luck once too
often, and the waves will end by swallowing him up.' But
Uraschimataro paid no heed to these remarks, and as he was really very
clever in managing a boat, the old people were very seldom anxious

about him.
One beautiful bright morning, as he was hauling his well-filled nets
into the boat, he saw lying among the fishes a tiny little turtle. He was
delighted with his prize, and threw it into a wooden vessel to keep till
he got home, when suddenly the turtle found its voice, and tremblingly
begged for its life. 'After all,' it said, '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 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.
His life passed by, and each hour seemed happier than the last, when
one day there rushed over him a terrible longing to see his parents. He
fought against it hard, knowing how it would grieve the princess, but it
grew on him stronger and stronger, till at length he became so sad that
the princess inquired what was wrong. Then he