, women and children as well as men. Hundreds more were
taken captive. The waters of the sea, that morning clear and sparkling,
were now the color of blood, and the pride of the Taira clan lay buried
beneath the waves or were cast up by the unquiet waters upon the strand.
With that fatal day the Taira vanished from the sight of men.

Yoritomo gave the cruel order that no male of that hated family should
be left alive, and armed murderers sought them out over hill and vale,
slaying remorselessly all that could be traced. In Kioto many boy
children of the clan were found, all of whom were slain. A few of the
Taira name escaped from the fleet and fled to Kiushiu, where they hid in
the lurking-places of the mountains. There, in poverty and pride, their
descendants still survive, having remained unknown in the depths of
their covert until about a century ago.

The story of Yoshitsune, which began in such glory, ends in treachery
and ingratitude. Yoritomo envied the brother to whose valor his power
was largely due. Hatred replaced the love which should have filled his
heart, and he was ready to believe any calumny against the noble young
soldier.

One Kajiwara, a military adviser in the army, grew incensed at
Yoshitsune for acting against his advice, and hastened to Yoritomo with
lies and slanders. The shogun, too ready to believe these stories,
forbade Yoshitsune to enter the city on his return with the spoils of
victory. The youthful victor wrote him a touching letter, which is still
extant, recounting his toils and dangers, and appealing for justice and
the clearance from suspicion of his fair fame.

Weary of waiting, he went to Kioto, where he found himself pursued by
assassins. He escaped into Yamato, but was again pursued. Once more he
escaped and concealed himself, but spies traced him out and the son of
his host tried to murder him.

What finally became of the hero is not known. The popular belief is that
he killed himself with his own hand, after slaying his wife and
children. Some believe that he escaped to Yezo, where for years he dwelt
among the Ainos, who to-day worship his spirit and have erected a shrine
over what they claim to be his grave. The preposterous story is even
advanced that he fled to Asia and became the great Mongol conqueror
Genghis Khan.

Whatever became of him, his name is immortal in Japan. Every Japanese
youth looks upon the youthful martyr as the ideal hero of his race, his
form and de