hidesato felt very sorry for the dragon king on hearing his story, and readily promised to do what he could to help him. the warrior asked where the centipede lived, so that he might attack the creature at once. the dragon king replied that its home was on the mountain mikami, but that as it came every night at a certain hour to the palace of the lake, it would be better to wait till then. so hidesato was conducted to the palace of the dragon king, under the bridge. strange to say, as he followed his host downwards the waters parted to let them pass, and his clothes did not even feel damp as he passed through the flood.