o
the rock, she showed him an opening just big enough for a man to wriggle
through. Passing into it, they entered a long underground passage, which
led out on to a wide field, above which spread a blue sky. In the middle
of the field stood a magnificent castle, built out of porphyry, with a
roof of gold and with glittering battlements. And his beautiful guide
told him that this was the palace in which her father lived and reigned
over his kingdom in the Under-world.

Together they entered the palace, and were received by the King with
great kindness. Turning to his daughter, he said:

'My child, I had almost given up the hope of ever seeing you again.
Where have you been all these years?'

'My father,' she replied, 'I owe my life to this youth, who saved me
from a terrible death.'

Upon which the King turned to Martin with a gracious smile, saying: 'I
will reward your courage by granting you whatever your heart desires.
Take as much gold, silver, and precious stones as you choose.'

'I thank you, mighty King, for your gracious offer,' answered Martin,'
'but I do not covet either gold, silver, or precious stones; yet if you
will grant me a favour, give me, I beg, the ring from off the little
finger of your royal hand. Every time my eye falls on it I shall think
of your gracious Majesty, and when I marry I shall present it to my
bride.'

So the King took the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin, saying:
'Take it, good youth; but with it I make one condition--you are never
to confide to anyone that this is a magic ring. If you do, you will
straightway bring misfortune on yourself.'

Martin took the ring, and, having thanked the King, he set out on the
same road by which he had come down into the Under-world. When he had
regained the upper air he started for his old home, and having found his
mother still living in the old house where he had left her, they settled
down together very happily. So uneventful was their life that it
almost seemed as if it would go on in this way always, without let or
hindrance. But one day it suddenly came into his mind that he would like
to get married, and, moreover, that he would choose a very grand wife--a
King's daughter, in short. But as he did not trust himself as a wooer,
he determined to send his old mother on the mission.

'You must go to the King,' he said to her, 'and demand the hand of his
lovely daughter in marriage for me.'

'What are you thinking of, my son?' an