Bakemono Yashiki (The Haunted House) Part 11

Dentatsu, in ecstasy of grat.i.tude did but seize his hands and murmur--"Wonderful man--truly a great captain!" For the first time Jimbei looked a genuine benevolence.

Dentatsu pushed the covers partly away and sat up in bed. Severe had been the chiding of Jimbei--"Honoured Shukke Sama, such conduct will never do. Fortunate it is that the event is postponed but an hour or so. Ne[e]san surely is amazed at the sudden abstinence of the Go Shukke Sama from food and drink. Moreover there is work to be done. The body unnourished, it gives way. Deign to rest. Be a.s.sured the urging will come from others." These the final words before the townsman-bandit had himself dropped off into soundest slumbers. Dentatsu watched him, with confidence and some awe. Smoothed out in sleep and under the influence of some pleasant dream, Jimbei was as harmless looking as one of the doves in the temple of the war G.o.d Hachiman. He leaned over and would wake him. "_Urusai!_ Annoying fellow! Ah! This _bo[u]zu_ is part hare, part a.s.s, part swine. When not braying, he is stuffing, or ears up in fright. Deign to rest, honoured priest. Legs and body will soon have enough to do." Again he turned over; and again the snores rose loud.

Dentatsu could not sleep. He lay awake, listening to the diminis.h.i.+ng sounds of inn life.

The temple bells were striking the sixth hour. The sound was a strange one. The strokes of the hour ran into one continued roar.

Jan-jan-jan--pon-pon--gon-gon--cries of men, the racket of wooden clappers and of drums, were now added to the uproar. For a few moments Dentatsu stood the increasing excitement. Through the cracks of the closed _amado_ he could see a reddish glare, becoming brighter and brighter. He sat up and roughly shook Jimbei by the shoulder. "Oh! This rascally cleric. Nothing will satisfy his stupidity, but to carry it to extremes. Honoured Shukke Sama, wait the urgency of others; don't supply it. We at least lack not preparation.... Ah!" The _sho[u]ji_ were thrown hastily back. The host of the inn appeared, his face pale and lips trembling. "Honoured guests! Still in bed? Deign at once to flee. The town is in a blaze. Every quarter has its conflagration which walks apace; and in this gale hopeless to overcome...."--"Don't talk folly,"

sleepily answered Jimbei. "Is not the town in ward for these six days.

Why disturb oneself? Let all burn together?" The host wrung his hands--"Honoured sirs, the blame and punishment falls on this Masuya if injury befall its guests. All lies wide open. Deign at once to leave....

Naruhodo!" His mouth was wide open. Jimbei and Dentatsu rose as on springs, full clad, _waraji_ on their feet. The way "lies wide open."

This was the watchword to Jimbei. "Edokko (sons of Edo) always are ready, and need no urging." With this genial explanation he and Dentatsu shouldered past the astonished landlord. If the latter would have had suspicions they were thwarted or postponed by the cries which rose below. His own main house was now in flames. Hands to head in this confusion of ideas he abandoned all thought of his guests and rushed down below. As if in his own home, with no guide but the outer glare Jimbei pa.s.sed to the inn rear. In the darkness of the pa.s.sage he had stopped, leaned down and struck a light. The precious _ryo[u]gake_ on his shoulders, with the priest he took to the fieldpaths in the rear of the town. The ground was level; the land rich rice field with its interspersed and picturesque clumps of trees and bamboo, its verdure bowered villages. From time to time they looked back at the sky, flaming red, and in its darker outer parts a ma.s.s of glittering flying sparks "like the gold dashes on aventurine lacquer ware."

For two days they had lain at Okazaki town, Dentatsu incapable of movement after the mad run along the cla.s.sic highway in the darkness of that fearful night. As refugees from the stricken town they met with kind reception. The greater part of Yos.h.i.+da town lay in ashes; and so great the disaster, so unsuspected the cause, that men looked rather to the hand of Heaven than of human kind for the source of such punishment.

Jimbei spoke gravely as the two stood on the long bridge leading to Yahagi across the river. "The luck of one, the misfortune of another--'twas the life of the Go Shukke Sama and of this Jimbei against the lives and fortunes of those wretched people. And is there aught to outweigh life?" The priest nodded a lugubrious and pleased a.s.sent to this plain doctrine. "It is just as well the host of Masuya lost life as well as goods. He might have made plaint, and had too long a tongue....

Jimbei could not foresee such weakness in so huge a body." He looked Dentatsu over with a little kindly contempt. "And so the honoured Shukke Sama would ask the name of this Jimbei? Honoured sir, the favour of your ears--for Kosaka Jinnai, son of Heima of that name, descendant of the Kosaka known to fame in service with s.h.i.+ngen Ko[u] of Kai. Times have changed, and misfortune driven Jinnai to seek revenge for his lord's undoing." He mocked a little; the tone was too unctuously hypocritical.

Then abruptly--"Sir priest, here we part. Your way lies ahead to Gifu town. Delay not too much, until the lake (Biwa-ko) is reached. Travel in company, for Jinnai, though his men are numbered by the thousand, controls not all the craft. A priest can scent a true priest. Seek out your kind.... Ha! You make a face.... Here: two hundred _ryo[u]_. The monastery is none too generous, and would have you live--abroad. _Sutra_ and prayers are not amusing. By face and years the honoured Shukke Sama loves the s.e.x as well as the best of his kind. The very shadow of a monastery is prolific. More merriment is to be found with the girls of Gion than with those who dance the _kagura_ (sacred dances) at Higas.h.i.+yama. Besides, these are for your betters. If further off--seek s.h.i.+mabara (the noted pleasure quarter). Go buy a Tayu; the funds are ample and not to be h.o.a.rded.... There need be no hesitation. 'Tis money of no thief. The prince robs the public; and Jinnai robs the princely thief. No trader ever has hung himself from the house beam for act of Jinnai; and more than one owes credit and freedom from a debtor's slavery to his aid."

It was with thanks, the parting with a man famed by deed before one's eyes, that Dentatsu slowly pa.s.sed on to the bridge. From its further end he could see the road leading into the Nakasendo[u] hills. Long he waited until a diminutive figure, hastening along it, appeared from time to time between scattered houses on the outskirts of Okazaki town. Then in earnest he took his own way, partly impelled by fright and anxiety at loss of his companion and being thrown on the resources of his own wits.

He felt for a time as a blind man deprived of his staff. It was years after that Yos.h.i.+da Hatsuemon, he who died so bravely at O[u]saka, accompanied Marubas.h.i.+ Chu[u]ya to the new fencing room opened at Aoyama Edo by the teacher of the _yawatori_--a new style of wrestling introduced from Morokos.h.i.+ (China)--of spear exercise (_so[u]jutsu_), of ju[u]jutsu. Marubas.h.i.+ Chu[u]ya had tried the new exponent of these arts, and found him master in all but that of the spear, in which himself he was famed as teacher. At this time (Sho[u]ho[u] 3rd year--1646) the crisis of Jinnai's fate and the conspiracy of the famous Yui Sho[u]setsu were both approaching issue. To his amazement Hatsuemon recognized in Osada Jinnai the one time Jimbei of the days when he had journeyed the To[u]kaido[u] in priestly robe and under the name of Dentatsu. The recognition was mutual, its concealment courteously discreet on the part of both men. Sho[u]setsu appreciated the merits, the audacity, and the certain failure ahead of Jinnai's scheme. The better remnants he would gather to himself. Yui Sho[u]setsu Sensei aimed to pose as a new Kusunoki Masas.h.i.+ge, whose picture was the daily object of his prayers and wors.h.i.+p. All was grist to the mill of his designs; but not a.s.sociation with such a chief--or lieutenant--as Kosaka Jinnai.

Forewarned Marubas.h.i.+ and Yos.h.i.+da (Dentatsu) held coldly off and sought no intimacy. Thus watched by keen wits of greater comprehension Jinnai rushed on his course into the claws of Aoyama Shu[u]zen and the meshes of the Tokugawa code for criminals of his cla.s.s.

CHAPTER XXI

IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT

Thus Kosaka Jinnai, under the name of Osada, at the beginning of Sho[u]ho[u] 2nd year (1645) was established at Aoyama Harajuku-mura. For a gentleman of such abilities his pretensions were modest. It is true that he hung out a gilt sign before his fencing hall, with no boasting advertis.e.m.e.nt of his qualities as teacher. Yet his fame quickly became such that students flocked to him by the score. In a few months, on plea of being over-stocked, he was turning away all who would seek his instruction. Some he could not refuse--retainers of _yas.h.i.+ki_ in his vicinity. But the generality of his disciples were a very rough lot; and this finer quality of his flock were carefully segregated, came and went at their appointed time apart from the common herd; and as matter of fact profited much from their teacher, and knew very little about him.

Which was exactly the aim of Jinnai. This was remembered of him later.

There is but one domestic episode connected with this period, so short and purposely obscure in its duration. About the time of his first establishment a villager, on visit to Edo town, chanced upon the practice hour of Jinnai. The years had pa.s.sed, yet the rustic had no difficulty in recognizing in the Sensei the one time Jinnosuke. When later he sought a more personal interview the great man was found courteous but freezing cold in the reception. The news from Tsukuba district was of that mixed character not to afford any exuberant pleasure. His reputation for bad company had gone abroad, though no great deeds of wickedness had been attributed to him. With the devotion of a daughter his wife had nourished the old folk, brought up her two daughters. On her shoulders during all these years had rested the management of these small affairs. The girls grew toward womanhood.

When O'Kiku was in her seventeenth year Jisuke had died--unconsoled at the ill turn fortune had played him in this unfilial son. These grandparents had lingered out the years, crippled and helpless, urging a re-marriage on O'Ichi--always refused on the plea that such relation was for two lives. Jisuke Dono had united them, and he alone could separate her from Jinnai. She sought no second relation herself and plead against it; and Jisuke would not force it on this filial daughter, who thus would block the disinheritance of the son. Thus the farm stood, ready for the master on his return. Truly the whole village wondered, and admired her filial conduct.

To most of this Jinnai listened with indifference. "These girls--their looks and age?" Replied the man--"O'Kiku now is seventeen years; O'Yui Dono has fifteen years. Truly they are the village beauties, and rarely found in such life, for they would spare the mother all labour." He spoke with enthusiasm. "Then the mother lives?" The man shook his head--"The grave mound yet is very fresh. When she died she spoke no word of Jinnosuke Dono." Boldly he looked in rebuke at the unfilial man.

Jinnai, if anything, showed annoyance. The old woman alive would have kept the inconvenient wife--the three women--at the distance of Tsukuba's slopes. His plans admitted of no possible descent on him at Aoyama Harajuku. Briefly he made request for the favour of bearing a message. Gladly the mission was accepted. With a discouraging cordiality in the leave taking the old acquaintance took his way back to the village. With something of a flutter O'Ichi opened and ran out the scroll he brought--"Unexpected and gratifying the meeting with Taro[u]bei San. The news of the village, not pleasing, is subject of condolence. Deign to observe well the instructions here given. The time will come when a summons to Edo town will be in order. At present the establishment is new and tender, and stands not the presence of strangers to the town. Condescend to show the same care in the present as in the past. The farm and its tenure is left to the hands of Ichi. As for these girls, look well to their care. They are said to be handsome and reputed the daughters of this Jinnai. Obey then his command. These are no mares for the public service, or for the private delectation of some rich plebeian. Service in a _yas.h.i.+ki_ need not be refused, and jumps more with the plans and purposes of Jinnai. Keep this well in mind, and await the ripeness of time. With salutation...." Such the cold greeting through the years. "Reputed the daughters of this Jinnai." Ah!

He thought and knew the years turned the beauty Ichi into the worn and wrinkled country hag of nearly forty years, only too ready to market her girls for her own necessities. She was ill and worn in her service. Here Jinnai was to be recognized. He was the man of his caste, with contempt for the plebeian he turned to his uses, but who must have no intimate contact with him or his.

Edo town was in a turmoil. North, East, South of the town the lives and purses of men who walked were at hazard. Plainly some band was operating in these quarters of the town. Aoyama Shu[u]zen was hard put to it. His arrests, outrageous and barbarous, increased with his difficulties. Some specimens have been instanced. His bands of _yakunin_ lay out in a wide net around the threatened quarters of the city. On the outskirts of Honjo[u] a country mansion would be fired and plundered. In O[u]kubo a temple (the Jisho[u]-in) was clean gutted of its treasury--without notice to its neighbours. Not a sign of the spoil could be traced until the Sho[u]s.h.i.+dai of Kyo[u]to sent as present to the suzerain a most valued hanging picture (_kakemono_) of Shu[u]bun, picked up for him in O[u]saka town, and worthy of being seen by the eyes of Edo's ruler.

Murder and rape were the common accompaniments of these crimes, the doers of which left no witness, if resisted. _Tsujikiri_, cutting down wayfarers merely to test the value of a sword blade, found revival. Such murders in the outward wards of the city were of nightly occurrence. Yet they all centred in Aoyama's own precinct; starting forth from the fencing hall of Osada Jinnai. What a band they were! At this long distant date the names read with that tinge of the descriptive which such nomenclature gives--Yamaguchi Chiyari, Kanagawa Koni, Sendai no O[u]kami, Okayama Kos.h.i.+n, k.u.mamoto Kondo[u], Tsukuba Ende;[26] their great chief being Kosaka Jinnai.

The eleventh month (December) was closing its first decade. The wine shop at s.h.i.+ba Nihon Enoki was celebrating a first opening, a feast in progress for some hours, and to be maintained for the few ensuing days.

The enthusiasm was at its height, and the wine flowed like water. Some few guests, who could, tottered home at midnight. Clerks and domestics--there is little difference in Nipponese practice--shut up the premises as well as their drunken state permitted. Those who had still some trace of sobriety proceeded to guzzle what was left in the opened casks. When the hour of the ox (1 A.M.) struck, not a man in the place knew front from rear. They lay sprawled out dead drunk--as were some of the women. This was the hour watched for and chosen by Jinnai. Such of the females as could give the alarm were bound and gagged by the masked invaders. Then they gutted place and store-houses. With bending backs they betook themselves over the hills the short distance to Harajuku.

Here Jinnai, in the unwise benevolence of the bandit chieftain, gave rein to the licentiousness of these favourites of his mature age, to these lieutenants and agents in the great movement for which all this loot was gathered. The circuit was formed. The heads of wine barrels just stolen were broached. The grizzled, tousled member who officiated as cook, and as such had been left behind to his own offices, produced the feast of fish and delicacies in celebration of the great deed and accomplishment. "Now is the turn of this company," said Jinnai in pleasant reference to the victims of the raid. "A real banquet of extreme intoxication.[27] Alas! We have no _tabo_.... Too dangerous a loot," commented Jinnai amid the roar of laughter and approval. "Use and abuse go together; and the necessity to slit the throats of such chattering parrots. For this company the remains would give trouble, and might bring unexpected visitors about our ears. Be virtuous--and spare not the wine." The advice was followed to the letter. Soon the house of Jinnai was a match for that of the looted wine shop.

With the light of the December dawn a metal dealer (_doguya_) was trudging his way over the sifted cover of an early snow fall. He lived thereabouts; often had had small jobs of mending the weapons and implements of this st.u.r.dy establishment of Jinnai, hence had some good will to its owner, which was more than could be said of most of the neighbours. To his surprise he noted the wide open gate to Jinnai's entrance, the many tracks leading within. Strange sounds were heard. He would venture on a look. "Oya! Oya!" The man stood stock still, half in fright and half in a wondering concupiscence of curiosity, as he took in the riotous vision of the fencing hall. Some twenty men lay scattered in different postures--all dead drunk. The noise arose from their wide open snoring mouths and nostrils. A score of wine casks lay tumbled, the liquor spilled on the _tatami_. Mingled with the remains of food and vomit were stained cups and dirty plates. More suggestive to his frightened eyes was the heap of packages laid out at the side. Some of them had been opened, and displayed the varied a.s.sortment of the contents. Most conspicuous was Jinnai, who had gone to sleep with the bag of all the coin found in the wine shop as pillow. Ah! Ha! The scene needed no interpreter. This was a mere band of thieves, the house their den. The man stole to the kitchen. He knew his ground, and that in these bachelor quarters no women would be stirring. Jinnai was a misogynist--on business principles. Hearing a stir he would have fled at the rear, but the body of the drunken cook, the intermediary of their dealings, lay square across the exit. Fearful he made his return. As he pa.s.sed out the front--"Alas! Alas! What is to be done? The Sensei, so just and prompt in his dealings, so kind in his patronage, is a mere thief. Report is to be made. As witness this Sentaro[u] will send the Sensei to the execution ground. But the honoured mother--no trouble is to be brought on her. By other discovery ... and perchance someone has seen this entrance! What's to be done? What's to be done?" He did one thing in his perplexity. He shut the outside door, closed fast the big gate, and departed by the service gate. Thus no others should intrude on this rash man; and likewise Jinnai had no inkling of his visit. Then the _doguya_ fled to his home, so blue in the face and overcome as to frighten the household. They gathered round the unhappy man with hot water to drink as restorative. "Had he seen a ghost?"

All day he pondered. Then he told his story to Aikawa Chu[u]dayu. The officer was indebted to Sentaro[u]; for many a hint in his operations.

"Deign somehow, honoured _yo[u]nin_, that the Sensei be allowed to escape. For this Sentaro[u] to appear as witness will bring down the curse of one sure to be visited with execution. Condescend this favour."

Chu[u]dayu looked on him with approval, but shook his head in doubt--"Never mind the curse of one dead. The service to the suzerain is most opportune. Thus surely there will be reward, not punishment. For the present you cannot be allowed to leave, but the mother shall suffer no anxiety. There is much serious matter against this man; perchance no testimony will be called for.... Strange he should be caught thus; on both sides, and in accordance." He looked over the scroll he held in his hands, and with it took his way to his master's apartment. Thus it was he could spring on Shu[u]zen the greater affair concerning the long missing man. Making his report of the tale of the _doguya_ he pa.s.sed over the scroll he held in his hand--"The fellow is caught in both quarters. There are three of these _ro[u]nin_, most intimate. Of this Marubas.h.i.+ Chu[u]ya little favourable is known, but he has the support of Yui Sensei, the noted master of the Us.h.i.+gome Enoki fencing room, and favourite of all but Hida no Kami, whom he would rival in attainment.

s.h.i.+bata Saburo[u]bei and this Kato[u] Ichiemon seem honourable men, of clean lives and reputation beyond the fact of being _ro[u]nin_. All experts at arms they live by teaching one form or other of the practice.

Curiosity led Chu[u]ya to the encounter of this Osada at his fencing hall, to find him more than his match at everything but his favourite art of the spear. But here lies the point. Later he returned, in company with a one time _shoke_ of the Zo[u]jo[u]ji. As Dentatsu the priest had met with Jinnai, and nearly suffered at his hands. In what way he did not say, but told Chu[u]ya that the man's real name was Kosaka--of the stock of Kosaka Dansho[u] no Chu[u]den of Kai; of him your lords.h.i.+p already has had experience in early days. At last he comes into the net and under such fair terms."

Aoyama did know his man; even after all these years. He had ripened much. Why not Jinnai? He would have gone himself, and chafed at not doing so; but his satellites showed him the lack of dignity in such procedure. The magistrate in person to take a common thief! Darkness offered chance of escape; so with dawn a host of _yakunin_ was sent under a _yoriki_[28] and several _do[u]s.h.i.+n_. Aikawa Chu[u]dayu himself volunteered. Jinnai and his men were not yet up. On the previous day awaking amid the unseemly debris of the night's debauch, with no clear recollection of its progress and ending, the chief's first alarm had been dissipated by finding the outer gate locked. The unbarred wicket was attributed to an oversight which hardly would attract notice from the outside. Indeed he had not been the first to rise and take tale of his companions, to ascertain which one had occasion to open it and go without. With such a chief few would admit negligence. The day pa.s.sed without notice. Confidence was restored. Now from the outside was heard a hum of voices. "On his lords.h.i.+p's business! On his lords.h.i.+p's business!" The cries came together with an irruption of _yakunin_ into the entrance hall, Jinnai and his men promptly sprang to arms. A scattered fight began, with none too great stomach of the officers before the stout resistance offered. It was no great matter to reach a ladder to the loft. Jinnai was the last man up. The more daring to follow was laid low with an arrow shot from above, and the ladder disappeared heavenward. Panels now were thrust back, short bows brought into use, and almost before they had thought to fight or flee the constables had five of their men stretched out on the _tatami_.

Before the shower of missiles they could but retreat. At the request for aid Aoyama Shu[u]zen was in a rage. There was now no preventing his departure. Mounting his horse off he rode from Kanda-mura toward Harajuku-mura. But it had taken some little time for the messenger to come; and more for Aoyama with his staff to go. Meanwhile much had taken place. The ward constables had joined the _yakunin_ of Shu[u]zen. The place completely surrounded, _tatami_ were taken from the neighbouring houses for use as s.h.i.+elds against the arrows. Then on signal a concerted rush of the hardiest was made. Pouring in, with ladders raised aloft; tumbling each other into the ditches, in the confusion pummelling each other with mighty blows, and in consequence securing stout whacks from the enraged recipients; the unlucky constables were soon indistinguishable in their coating of mud and blood. The outrageous ruffians, however, were soon tumbled from the posts of vantage and precise aim by well directed thrusts. A dozen men poured up the ladders and through broken panels into the loft above. Here in the uncertain light they hesitated. The figures of the foe could be seen, armed and ready for an arrow flight. Then a shout was raised from below. Stifling smoke poured up from every quarter. The scene was illuminated by the blazing figures of the archers, for these were old armour and weapons, lay figures stuffed with straw and meant but to gain precious moments of respite. The _yakunin_ now had themselves to save. The retreat was as disorderly as at their first advent, but their rear was not galled by aught but flying sparks and burning timbers. Discomfited they watched the blazing ma.s.s of Jinnai's once establishment; watched it until it was a mere ma.s.s of ashes and charred beams.

Jinnai had been long prepared for such an adventure. The _yakunin_ at first driven back he followed his company through the tunnel[29] leading to beneath a subsidiary shrine in the grounds of the neighbouring temple of the Zenkwo[u]ji. Here he dismissed them, with hasty division of the raided coin, and instructions to their chiefs to meet him at the festival of the Owari no Tsus.h.i.+ma in the fifth month (June). Himself he would go north, to give notice and gather his recruits. Thus exposed at Edo, the great uprising now must centre in O[u]saka. They scattered to their different courses; and thus Jinnai failed to meet the enraged Aoyama Shu[u]zen, now present on the scene. But even the harsh discipline of their master had to yield to the piteous appearance of his men in their discomfiture. Aikawa Chu[u]dayu bent low in most humble apology. They had underestimated the man, had virtually allowed him to escape--"Naruhodo! The figures were of straw, and no wonder yielded so readily to the spear. Only the sight of the flames rising amid the armour betrayed the deceit in the gloom of the loft. Deign to excuse the negligence this once." A _do[u]s.h.i.+n_, an old and experienced officer, spoke almost with tears. Aoyama gave a "humph!" Then looking over this mud stained, blear eyed, b.l.o.o.d.y nosed, ash dusted band of his confederates he began to chuckle at the battered and ludicrous composition. All breathed again. But when he had re-entered his _yas.h.i.+ki_, and was left to himself, without concubine for service, or Jinnai for prospective amus.e.m.e.nt, then indeed he stamped his feet, his belly greatly risen. Alas! Alas! How could Yokubei Sama find a subst.i.tute for the one; and secure the real presence of the other?

CHAPTER XXII

THE SHRINE OF THE JINNAI-BAs.h.i.+

It was one of those small Fudo[u] temples, tucked away on a shelf of the hillside just above the roadway, embowered in trees, with its tiny fall and rock basin for the enthusiastic sinner bathing in the waters of this bitterly cold day. The whole construction of shrine, steep stone steps, and priestly box for residence, so compactly arranged with the surrounding Nature as to be capable of very decent stowage into a case--much like those of the dolls of the third or fifth month. The nearest neighbour was the s.h.i.+chimen-s.h.i.+--the seven faced Miya--in this district so dotted even to day with ecclesiastical remnants, from Takenotsuka to Hanabatakemura on the north edge of Edo--To[u]kyo[u].

However it was not one of their resident priests who stood at the _ro[u]ka_ of the inc.u.mbent cleric seeking a night's lodging. The kindly oldish _do[u]mori_ (temple guardian) looked him over. Nearly fifty years of age, two teeth lacking in the front, his head shaved bald as one of the stones from the bed of the Tonegawa, a tired hard eye, thin cruel and compressed lips added nothing to the recommendation of the rosary (_juzu_) and pilgrim's staff (_shakujo[u]_) grasped in hand; and indeed the whole air of the man savoured of the weariness of debauch, and of strife with things of this world rather than of battles against its temptations. Yet the wayfarer was greeted with kindness, his tale of woe heard. His own quarters--a flouris.h.i.+ng tribute to the mercies of the eleven-faced Kwannon, with a side glance at Amida--had gone up in smoke the day before. Naught remained but the store-house, with its treasure of _sutra_ scrolls and hastily removed _ihai_ of deceased paris.h.i.+oners.

The disaster was not irreparable. His enthusiastic followers already sought to make good the damage. Himself he would find aid from the cult in Edo.

Kosaka Jinnai, for the unfortunate cleric was none else, seated himself in the comfortable quarters of the _do[u]mori_, to earn his shelter by a talk which in interest richly repaid the meagre fare, and made amends for no prepossessing exterior. On his pleading weariness the _do[u]mori_ got out _futon_ and spread a couch for the guest. This suited Jinnai's real purpose, which was not to loiter close to Edo and Aoyama's claws, but to push on that night toward Tsukuba and old friends, and recent ones he knew he would find on its none too savoury slopes. But Heaven does not permit the wicked a continued license in ill deeds. The weariness and indisposition pleaded, in part genuine, rapidly grew worse. The chilled feeling pa.s.sed into its palpable and physical exposition. With alarm the _do[u]mori_ watched the progress of this ailment. His hot drinks and solicitude would not produce the needed perspiration. Instead the chill was followed by high fever and delirium.

The medical man, summoned from the village, was taking leave--"A plain case of ague from s.h.i.+mosa's swamps. Is he friend or relative of the honoured Shukke Sama? No?... Alas! A case of resting under the shade of the same tree; of drinking from the same stream.[30] Deign to have a care with this fellow. He says strange things, and raves of robbery and strife--'I am Kosaka Jinnai; the famous Jinnai.' Truly you are to be pitied at being saddled with such a guest. Doubtless it is affliction for some deed committed in a previous life, a connection of two worlds between the honoured Shukke Sama and this doubtful guest."

The _do[u]mori_ was an old and foolish fellow; but still able to catch the warning tone and manner of the leech. With anxiety he went to his guest. Jinnai was sleeping under influence of the draught administered, and on the word of the medical man was insured for some hours unconsciousness under the drug. Placing food and drink close to hand, out into the darkness went the st.u.r.dy old chap. The day saw him at Harajuku-mura, wandering around the site of ashes and charred beams of the late conflagration. No sign of renovation was there found. For satisfaction and a meal he turned to the benches of a near-by eating shed. His inquiries confirmed his own fears and aroused the suspicions of others. "Truly the honoured Bo[u]zu San must live far from this part of Edo. These ruins are of no temple. Here stood the fencing room of one Osada Jinnai, a _ro[u]nin_. This fellow turned out to be a famous bandit and escaped criminal; no less a person than the Kosaka Jinnai engaged in the attempt of years ago to carry off or slay the Tenju-in-Den of the suzerain's House. Heaven's vengeance long since visited the others. Now Aoyama Dono seeks this fellow. Is he friend or relative that thus inquiry is made?" The _do[u]mori_ in fright cut short his meal and questions. Paying his scot he made off in a hurry. Soon after one of Shu[u]zen's spies pa.s.sing, he was informed of the matter. Then the hue and cry was raised through the ranks to find this suspicious cleric.

From Jinnai the _do[u]mori_ got little satisfaction on return at dark.

He found him sitting, with natural and restored presence, smoking, and measuring him with the cold cynical glance which froze the marrow in his spine. "Ha! Ah! The honoured Shukke Sama wanders far and long." The priest did not attempt to conceal fright or mission--"Honoured guest, the poor quarters of this foolish cleric are open to the afflicted of his kind. But Kosaka Dono, deign at once to remove from here. Already the _yakunin_ are on the trail. Yourself, in the mad fits, you make no concealment of name and exploits. Found here, discredit is brought upon the Buddha, and ruin to this his follower. Condescend at once to seek other quarters." He looked earnestly and pleadingly at the bandit chief, with squawking groan to lower his head almost to the _tatami_. Jinnai's eye went through him in his cold wrath--"Be a.s.sured of it; that I am Kosaka Jinnai; and hence one without fear. Let the _yakunin_ come--to their own destruction. These quarters just suit this Jinnai--for the time. Cowardly and foolish cleric, you would prattle and bring trouble on yourself with that wheel of a tongue. Then get you hence. This Jinnai undertakes the charge and exercise of the weapons of the furious G.o.d.

Bah! They are but of wood." To the horror of the priest he gave the wooden Fudo[u] which adorned the chamber such a whack that the unfortunate and flawed divinity parted into its aged fragments. "What!

You still delay!" A hand of iron was laid on the old fellow's neck.

Jinnai bent him to the ground. He looked around for implement. None was better to hand than part of the outraged G.o.d. Holding firm his victim, and raising his robes, a vigorous hand applied to the priest's cus.h.i.+ons such a drubbing as he had not had since childhood's days. Then grasping him neck and thigh Jinnai cast him out onto the _ro[u]ka_ and down the steps which led to it. The old fellow heard the _amado_ close tight with noise. Thus the unwilling G.o.d entered on the service of this new satellite.

The hue and cry was loud. In the cold of the night the _do[u]mori_ wandered, afraid in his shame and trouble to approach paris.h.i.+oners; afraid in the chill outside air to sleep. A hail came to his ears--"Sir priest, have you not dropped coin?" Ah! Here was a stranger; and his tale he did unfold. Parlous his case; and for him the sky was upside down. "Most lucky! At our place to-day a prayer of _hyak.u.manban_ (memorial service) is to be held. Food, sleep, and counsel, wide enough for this weariness and distress are offered. Deign to go in company."

Thus the spy led him to his officer, a _yoriki_ established at Fuchiemura in the attempt to net this desperate fellow. With joy the news of Jinnai's close proximity was heard. Entrusting the tired and barely conscious priest to the village head-man, officer, _do[u]s.h.i.+n_, and _yakunin_ set out. Jinnai had overrated his capacity. Again the fit was strong on him. He shook and s.h.i.+vered, helpless under the weight of every covering he could find, and dared not move or turn in fear of the chill aroused. Then at the outside came the shout--"His lords.h.i.+p's business! Make no resistance; submit at once to the rope, in hope to secure grace." The _yakunin_ roughly broke down the doors of the priest's house. They found Jinnai on foot. Growled he--"You are not the kind to face Jinnai. A rush--to freedom; with such of you as stand for carrion." He boasted overmuch. His fit was too strong even for such iron resolution. The crisis of the fever was at hand, and his legs bent under him. A shove from behind sent him weakly sprawling in a heap. Then they all fell on him, bound him hand and foot, and carried him to the village.

The cortege halted on its way to Edo town. Loud had been the lamentation of the unfortunate _do[u]mori_. He was a ruined priest. At best a witness, perhaps to be regarded and tortured as the accomplice of this desperate villain; jail or the execution ground awaited him. He plead with this one and with that. With sympathy they heard, but in stolid silence. The spy, who had accosted him, knew the old man well--holy, pure, somewhat simple and guileless of mind, he was object of reverence and gentle derision of the paris.h.i.+oners who sought his service in every trouble. The man spoke to the _do[u]s.h.i.+n_, explained the matter. The _do[u]s.h.i.+n_ took him to the _yoriki_ seated beneath a tea shed. The officer nodded; then called for the report. "There is an error of transcription." Thus he altered the characters [tsujido[u]] to [tsujido[u]]. Instead of _tsujido[u]_ a cross road temple, now it read "taken at the cross roads"--"Call the old man here." To the priest--"Through no fault of yours has this man visited you. Be better advised as to other guests.... But now--take this coin. This man's course is run. He surely will be ordered to the execution ground. Great has been his wickedness, and his grudge is not to be visited on others.

Prayers are to be said for his soul in the next world. The _do[u]mori_ of the Fudo[u], his zeal and honesty, his purity of heart and manners are vouched for by those who know. Pray for him.... Now--get you hence!"

He put a gold _koban_ in the priest's hand, allowed the joyful reverence, and cut short the protests of inconvenient grat.i.tude. The _do[u]s.h.i.+n_ shoved him off to the rear. The friendly spy carried him apart and pointed to a path running through the fields behind the houses of the hamlet. None cared to observe his departure. Thus Jinnai came to Edo, minus his ghostly purveyor.

First carefully was his body nourished for the coming entertainment.

With clement genial smile Aoyama Shu[u]zen claimed the acquaintance of this one time antagonist. As to the past and recent events there was no doubt. Aoyama had hazy, but little confirmed, ideas of greater objects; knowing as he did the early nature and history of Jinnai. But the Tokugawa were now so firmly seated. Confession was to be secured in the first place, to legalize the execution; and information in the second place, if such existed. Of confession there was none; not even answer.

Jinnai closed tight his lips in scorn. Then first he was scourged; the scourging of he who is already condemned. The stout fellows stood forward with their _madake_; those thin slips of rattan, two feet in length, wrapped into a bundle an inch in thickness with stout hempen cord. Ah! How flexible and painful! As they laid on quickly the welts and b.l.o.o.d.y stripes appeared. At the hundred and fiftieth blow the medical man and legal procedure demanded forbearance. He was removed.

"Cure his back!" roared Shu[u]zen. "Rub salt into the cuts. Next time the tender surface will force at least words from his lips." But he underestimated his man. Bound to a stake, with arms behind, kneeling on the sharp grids, Jinnai hugged the stones--five, six, seven--Chu[u]dayu leaped down to aid the _do[u]s.h.i.+n_ in pressing down the weight of nearly eight hundred pounds resting between chin and doubled hams. The body of Jinnai grew lobster red, his lips were tinged with b.l.o.o.d.y foam and gouts appeared. The hours pa.s.sed. The black colour of the feet rose upwards.

Then the sign was given and the man taken away in a dead faint, without the utterance of word or groan.

Thus the game went on. Now it was the lobster. Aoyama would not go to the prison, nor miss the sight. For a whole morning with curiosity he watched the progress of the torture. Jinnai lay on a mat. Arms pulled tight to the shoulders and behind the back, the legs drawn together in the front and dragged up to the chin. The body at first had the dark red of a violent fever, but the sweat which covered it was cold as ice. Then the colour darkened to a purple, changed to an ominous blackish green.

Suddenly it began to whiten. In alarm the doctor ordered relief. With wrath Shu[u]zen rose from his camp chair close by; still no confession.

What was suspension to this? Jinnai hung limp as a dangling fish from the beam. Arms drawn behind his back and upward to the shoulders, a weight added to the feet made any movement of the limbs agony to the whole body. It was a sort of prolonged crucifixion. When blood began to ooze from the toes again removal was ordered. Of the latter part of the torture Jinnai knew little. He was unconscious. This hardy body of his was adding to his torments. Even Shu[u]zen could not help admiring this obstinate courage. He would try one other means--flattery; genuine in its way. "Useless the torture, Jinnai, as is well known with such a brave man. But why prolong this uselessness? Done in the performance of official duty, yet it is after all to our entertainment. Make confession and gain the due meed of the fear of future generations, their admiration and wors.h.i.+p of such thorough paced wickedness. Surely Jinnai is no ordinary thief. Shu[u]zen never can be brought to believe him such." He spoke the last somewhat in scorn. At last Jinnai was touched with anger. He opened eyes, and, for the first time, mouth--"Aoyama Dono speaks truth. But why regret past failure? My followers? They number thousands. Why rouse envy or show favour by giving name of this or that l.u.s.ty fellow? The object? As to that exercise your wits. Fat wits; which in these twenty years could not hunt out this Jinnai. Ah! 'Twas but this unexpected illness which played this evil trick; else Jinnai never would have faced Shu[u]zen; except sword in hand. This Jinnai is a thief, a bandit; the tongue grudges to say. Such is his confession. Not a word more--to Aoyama Uji." He closed his eyes and mouth. Enraged at the failure and familiarity Aoyama shouted out--"The wooden horse! The water torture!" They mounted the man on the sharp humped beast. Lungs, belly, abdomen wide distended, in every physical agony, his body could but writhe, to add to the torture of his seat as they dragged down on his legs. Eyes starting wildly from his head, gasping for air, the unfortunate wretch was given the chance to belch forth the liquid.