Well , they were n't crossing the lake while a cat ` ud be lickin ' her ear , and the poor men could n't stir hand or foot to follow them . They saw Seven Inches handing the three princesses out of the boat , and letting them down by a basket into a draw-well , but king nor princes ever saw an opening before in the same place . When the last lady was out of sight , the men found the strength in their arms and legs again . Round the lake they ran , and never drew rein till they came to the well and windlass ; and there was the silk rope rolled on the axle , and the nice white basket hanging to it . ` Let me down , ' says the youngest prince . ` 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 XXXXX was laid upon it !
At about across as in into of on to with