but a friendly one this time--who led
the bewildered soldiers in safety to the plains of Mino.

But they were not yet free from the wiles of the white deer. Its spirit
now appeared, discharging among them poisonous gases, before whose
stupefying influence they fell helpless to the ground. The wild garlic
again was their salvation. Some one ate of it with happy effect, and
gave it to all the men and animals, so that all got well again. Wild
garlic is still looked upon in Japan as a specific against disease and
as a safeguard against witches. For this purpose it is hung up before
gates and doorways in times of epidemic or superstitious fear.

The hero next came to Ibuki yama, a cone-shaped mountain whose flattened
summit seemed to pierce the skies. Here too dwelt a hostile spirit, who
disputed the way, and against whom Yamato advanced unarmed, leaving his
sword, "Grass-Mower," under a tree at the mountain's foot. The gods of
Japan, perhaps, were proof against weapons of steel. Not far had the
hero gone before the deity appeared upon his path, transformed into a
threatening serpent. Leaping over it, he pursued his way. But now the
incensed deity flung darkness on the mountain's breast, and the hero,
losing his path, swooned and fell. Fortunately, a spring of healing
water bubbled beside him, a drink from which enabled him to lift his
head. Onward he went, still feeble, for the breath of the serpent god
was potent for ill, and at length reached Otsu, in the district of Ise,
where, under the pine-tree, he found the sword which he had left there
on setting out, three years before. His gladness found vent in a poem
composed of these words: "O pine, if you were a man, I should give you
this sword to wear for your fidelity."

The conquering prince was now near the end of his career. Still sick
unto death from his adventure upon the mountain, he told before the
shrine of the gods the tale of his victories and perils, offered to
them his weapons and prisoners, and thanked them piously for their care.
Then he sent a report of his doings to his father, the mikado, and
begged to see him. Keiko, the father, sent a messenger with words of
comfort, but when he arrived the heroic Yamato-Dake was dead.

He was buried near where he died, and from his tomb a white bird was
seen to fly. On opening the tomb nothing was found but the dead hero's
chaplet and robes. The place where the bird was seen to alight bears
still a name signifying Imp