ns of life, opened his eyes, uneasily moving first
this limb, and then that. Isuke sat bolt upright, with most stentorian
snort. He waved both arms with a violence which sent his two supporters
to the ground. In wrath he sprang up, but the malign effect was still
too powerful. His legs wavered under him, and they had to come again to
his aid. However, it was necessary to carry off Gensuke limp and
helpless; with the support of the arms on each side of him, Isuke made
his way back to the _yashiki_ on his own legs.

Heima made report to his lord of what had passed, of the history of the
place as reported by Saito[u] Sensei. Shu[u]zen pursed his lips, and
inquired as to the condition of Isuke. The _chu[u]gen_ was a favoured
attendant; one much trusted. At the end of a week he was summoned to his
lord's presence. "And Katai (tough) Isuke, his experience has gone
beyond his powers?" Shu[u]zen spoke with that slight jeering condolence
which arouses obstinacy. Isuke, prostrate on his hands, expressed
gratitude for his lord's reproof. The fault was not his. Overcome by the
foul air he became giddy, then lost all sensation of time or place. "And
the roaring and noises, these did not frighten Isuke into his
faint?"--"Roaring, noise, there were none; beyond the gentle drip of
water often heard in such places. The roaring heard must have been due
to the snoring of Gensuke. The cowardly fellow still clings to the bed,
sucking in the dainty fare of the invalid; not so, Isuke." Shu[u]zen had
an idea. All the others were too struck by fear to be of aid--"Then
Isuke fears not the work of fox or badger. He will again make the
venture?"--"For the Tono Sama; though none too willingly," was the
_chu[u]gen's_ reply. "Fox or badger? Let them but come under the knife
of Isuke, and he will make soup of them; a better soup than they supply
otherwise. But the stench!"--"And the foxes of Nakano (Shinjuku)?" Isuke
blushed. His master was far too knowing.

At Shu[u]zen's order that night Isuke met his lord at the steps of the
Inari Shrine. The adventure pleased Shu[u]zen. He was still young enough
to delight in exposure and difficulties. Plainly old Beita was not the
man for this task. His retainers readily would obey their lord's
direction. But Shu[u]zen hungered for a more direct credit. He stripped
to his loin cloth in the cold winter night. Isuke followed his lord's
example. The job would be no clean one. Then the two men dropped to the
floor o