uma, who was delighted at the prospect
of carrying his revenge into execution on the morrow. That same
evening Matayemon sent one of his two faithful retainers as a spy to
the inn, to find out at what hour Matagoro was to set out on the
following morning; and he ascertained from the servants of the inn,
that the party was to start at daybreak for Sagara, stopping at Ise to
worship at the shrine of Tersho Daijin.[19]

[Footnote 19: Goddess of the sun, and ancestress of the Mikados.]

Matayemon made his preparations accordingly, and, with Kazuma and his
two retainers, started before dawn. Beyond Uyeno, in the province of
Iga, the castle-town of the Daimio Todo Idzumi no Kami, there is a
wide and lonely moor; and this was the place upon which they fixed for
the attack upon the enemy. When they had arrived at the spot,
Matayemon went into a tea-house by the roadside, and wrote a petition
to the governor of the Daimio's castle-town for permission to carry
out the vendetta within its precincts;[20] then he addressed Kazuma,
and said--

"When we fall in with Matagoro and begin the fight, do you engage and
slay your father's murderer; attack him and him only, and I will keep
off his guard of Ronins;" then turning to his two retainers, "As for
you, keep close to Kazuma; and should the Ronins attempt to rescue
Matagoro, it will be your duty to prevent them, and succour Kazuma."
And having further laid down each man's duties with great minuteness,
they lay in wait for the arrival of the enemy. Whilst they were
resting in the tea-house, the governor of the castle-town arrived,
and, asking for Matayemou, said--

"I have the honour to be the governor of the castle-town of Todo
Idzumi no Kami. My lord, having learnt your intention of slaying your
enemy within the precincts of his citadel, gives his consent; and as a
proof of his admiration of your fidelity and valour, he has further
sent you a detachment of infantry, one hundred strong, to guard the
place; so that should any of the thirty-six men attempt to escape, you
may set your mind at ease, for flight will be impossible."

[Footnote 20: "In respect to revenging injury done to master or
father, it is granted by the wise and virtuous (Confucius) that you
and the injurer cannot live together under the canopy of heaven.

"A person harbouring such vengeance shall notify the same in writing
to the Criminal Court; and although no check or hindrance may be
offered to his carrying