determined to secure the _yashiki_ as his own, and
the future rest and peace of Nirvana to the unhappy O'Shimo.

CHAPTER VI

THE SHRINE OF THE O'INARI SAMA

Something has been already said of the _chu[u]gen_ Isuke, unwilling
guide of Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon to the haunted house of the Go
Bancho[u]. Thus is the second person of the name of Shu[u]zen introduced
into the traditions and history of the Bancho[u]. Of him and his
experiences with its denizens something is to be said.

Okumura Shu[u]zen had distinguished himself in the Amakusa uprising of
1637-8. A retainer of Matsudaira Nobutsuna he had not been the last man
to force his way into the blazing ruins of Arima castle. He did his very
best amid the struggling mass of halt, maimed, and blind, after the real
defenders of the castle had died weapons in hand. He was able to present
himself before his lord with a reasonable number of his own company with
heads on their shoulders; and a phenomenal number of heads minus
shoulders, of all ages and sexes--men, women, and children--of the
castle inmates. Against the once owners Shu[u]zen had little grudge. So
much was to be said of him. In private he railed against the bad rule
which had brought him and his fellows into the field against the
embattled farmers. But this was a thing to be endured; not cured, except
by time. Rebellion against the liege lord, under the leadership of
_samurai_ once retainers of the cowardly Konishi Yukinaga, added edge to
his sword and point to his spear. His service brought him in the train
of his lord's progress to Edo. In the report made Okumura Shu[u]zen
figured so well, that request--amounting to command--transferred him to
the Tokugawa over-lord. Made _hatamoto_ with fief of four hundred _koku_
he was as well liked by his greater lord as when in the humbler service
of a _daimyo[u]_. Five years of faithful work, and the necessities of
Government for his _yashiki_ site in Mita received the reward of a
liberal grant of another site in the Go Bancho[u], together with the
thousand _ryo[u]_ of costs of removal.

The work of transfer was pushed forward. The more modest abode of a lord
of moderate income, and the massive gateway with its supporting walls
and fence of closely woven, sharp pointed, bamboo retiring into the
distance now were ready to shut in Shu[u]zen to the privacy of his share
in the suzerain's defence. Plainly Shu[u]zen Dono put more confidence in
his own prowess, or