the Gomizaka when he heard steps behind
him. Oya! Oya! Two _chu[u]gen_ and a lady. About these there was nothing
suspicious. But the lantern they carried? It was marked with the
_mitsuba-aoi_, or triple leaf holly hock crest of the suzerain's House.
Plainly the bearers were on mission from one of the San Ke (Princes of
the Blood), or perhaps from the palace itself. Reverence must be done to
the lantern. On his present mission, and thus arrayed, Aoyama sought to
avoid notice. He disappeared into the long _suzuki_ grass at the road
side. He could hear the lady express her anxiety and haste. Then with
curiosity Aoyama watched their strange behavior. A bare sixty feet
beyond they came to a halt. The lady shrank back as in terror. Hatena!
Aoyama recognized him by his size, the antagonist and critic of the
previous night. Without delay, or giving time for flight, the huge
ruffian with one hand grasped the bosom of the lady's dress, with the
other the arm of a _chu[u]gen_. A kick sent the other fellow very
willingly to the ground. Tremendous was the apparition as he towered
over his victims. He seemed taller than ever. His hair stood out like
iron wire. His mouth grinned open wide from ear to ear; and now Aoyama
could see distinctly the horns sprouting from his temples. Did he not
have claws? Aoyama could not remember.

He would rescue the lady, beautiful of course. Rapidly passing through
the grass Aoyama burst out upon the group. He took aim at the knave's
breast bone. "Yai!" The fellow let go. The two prisoners, thrust
violently into the knees of Shu[u]zen, brought him to the ground. When
he had recovered balance the rascal had disappeared. The lady was in a
dead faint. One _chu[u]gen_ seemed to be dead. The other was squatting
at some distance, eyes saucer like in fright. He regarded Aoyama with
grave suspicion. The _samurai_ called to him. "Here you! Your mistress
has fainted. Water at once!" But the fellow did nothing but answer "Hei!
Hei!" without sign of motion. "Don't sit and purr like a cat," roared
Shu[u]zen. "Off with you, and fetch water." At last the man took courage
to approach. "Alas! Danna Sama, this Bancho[u], where the thieves are
apparitions, and apparitions turn to women, frightens this
Isuke."--"Fear or no fear, water must be had. Such milk livered fellows
are not for man's work. Weakness of loins won't do. Off with you."--"But
how?"--"In your scabbard, fool." For answer the _chu[u]gen_ made a wry
face an