pick up much
coin for wine and dainties. However, all may go well. Delay not past the
coming night to join yourself with Kage. Between the service of
Shu[u]zen and that of Kage this low fellow (_yaro[u]_) Kakunai must not
hesitate."--"Just so," agreed the groom. "It is mere matter of gambling
anyhow that any ill occurs. Drinking wine, does Kage also gamble?" A
shudder went through the frame of the horse--"Why speak thus? Of horses'
bones the dice are made. Would Kage trifle with the relics of his kind?
Make answer, Kakunai." He spoke with a fierce earnestness. Kakunai
stammering sought answer. Just then Isuke appeared, to urge all speed.

With lowered heads man and beast appeared at the house entrance. Kakunai
touched three fingers to the ground. To insure due reverence Kakunai had
haltered Kage so that he could talk, but hardly move a limb. At sight
of the beast Bankei Osho[u] took his most severe ecclesiastical pose.
Dressed in violet robes, the gold embroidered stole (_kesa_) over his
shoulders, the rosary of crystal beads in hand, he approached the horse.
With the brush of long white hair which clears away the dust of the
world's offences (_hossu_) he swept the circumambient air. Long he
observed the nag. Then coming close to it he grasped the forelock. Kage
raised his head, with open mouth as if about to snap. The abbot
continued his recitation of the holy _sutra_. Mouth still wide open,
clumsily the horse sank on his knees before the priest. Then suddenly
and deftly Bankei thrust a bolus into the open mouth, which closed as
moved by springs. Sweeping the air with _hossu_ and his rescued
arm--"Acquire the heart of virtue. Assume the true nature, and seek
Nirvana." He kept on stroking the beast's head with the rosary. Once or
twice Kage opened his mouth as if to speak. Then incontinently the body
rolled over lifeless. The bystanders looked on with fear and amazement.
Without speaking the abbot took the arm of Shu[u]zen and accompanied him
within.

Kakunai, left to himself, rolled to the ground as speechless as his four
legged charge. Tears of sorrow and anger flowed copiously. "Ah! He is
dead! Kage is dead! Wise was he to advise flight. Alas! This beast of a
_bo[u]zu_ (priest), what purge did he use, thus to cut off at once the
breath of Kage? No more gambling, no more wine, with Kage nicely bedded
and asleep in his stable, and Kakunai with equal luck asleep in the
pleasure quarter! Alas! Alas! Kage is no better no