suke
drew and defended himself, and soon contrived to slash Gompachi on the
forehead; so that the latter, seeing himself overmatched, fled under
the cover of the night. Umanosuke, fearing to hurt his recently healed
wound, did not give chase, and went quietly back to Chobei's house.
When Gompachi returned home, he hatched a story to deceive Chobei as
to the cause of the wound on his forehead. Chobei, however, having
overheard Umanosuke reproving Gompachi for his wickedness, soon became
aware of the truth; and not caring to keep a robber and murderer near
him, gave Gompachi a present of money, and bade him return to his
house no more.

And now Chobei, seeing that Umanosuke had recovered his strength,
divided his apprentices into bands, to hunt out Banzayemon, in order
that the vendetta might be accomplished. It soon was reported to him
that Banzayemon was earning his living among the mountebanks of
Asakusa; so Chobei communicated this intelligence to Umanosuke, who
made his preparations accordingly; and on the following morning the
two went to Asakusa, where Banzayemon was astonishing a crowd of
country boors by exhibiting tricks with his sword.

Then Umanosuke, striding through the gaping rabble, shouted out--

"False, murderous coward, your day has come! I, Umanosuke, the son of
Umanojo, have come to demand vengeance for the death of three innocent
men who have perished by your treachery. If you are a man, defend
yourself. This day shall your soul see hell!"

With these words he rushed furiously upon Banzayemon, who, seeing
escape to be impossible, stood upon his guard. But his coward's heart
quailed before the avenger, and he soon lay bleeding at his enemy's
feet.

But who shall say how Umanosuke thanked Chobei for his assistance; or
how, when he had returned to his own country, he treasured up his
gratitude in his heart, looking upon Chobei as more than a second
father?

Thus did Chobei use his power to punish the wicked, and to reward the
good--giving of his abundance to the poor, and succouring the
unfortunate, so that his name was honoured far and near. It remains
only to record the tragical manner of his death.

We have already told how my lord Midzuno Jiurozayemon, the chief of
the associated nobles, had been foiled in his attempts to bring shame
upon Chobei, the Father of the Otokodate; and how, on the contrary,
the latter, by his ready wit, never failed to make the proud noble's
weapons recoil upon h