` 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 . ` Let 's see what sort of people are in the castle . ' On he walked , across fields and lawn , and no one was there to keep him out or let him into the castle ; but the big hall-door was wide open . He went from one fine room to another that was finer , and at last he reached the handsomest of all , with a table in the middle . And such a dinner as was laid upon it ! The prince was hungry enough , but he was too mannerly to eat without being invited . So he sat by the fire , and he did not wait long till he heard steps , and in came Seven Inches with the youngest sister by the hand . Well , prince and princess flew into one another 's arms , and says the little man , says he , ` Why are n't you eating ? ' ' I think , sir , ' says the prince , ` it was only good manner to wait to be asked . '
` The other princes did n't think so , ' XXXXX he .
am came gave let perches reached says see sir winding