en invited Hoichi to the temple, to play and recite.
Afterwards, being much impressed by the wonderful skill of the lad, the
priest proposed that Hoichi should make the temple his home; and this
offer was gratefully accepted. Hoichi was given a room in the
temple-building; and, in return for food and lodging, he was required
only to gratify the priest with a musical performance on certain
evenings, when otherwise disengaged.

One summer night the priest was called away, to perform a Buddhist
service at the house of a dead parishioner; and he went there with his
acolyte, leaving Hoichi alone in the temple. It was a hot night; and
the blind man sought to cool himself on the verandah before his
sleeping-room. The verandah overlooked a small garden in the rear of
the Amidaji. There Hoichi waited for the priest's return, and tried to
relieve his solitude by practicing upon his biwa. Midnight passed; and
the priest did not appear. But the atmosphere was still too warm for
comfort within doors; and Hoichi remained outside. At last he heard
steps approaching from the back gate. Somebody crossed the garden,
advanced to the verandah, and halted directly in front of him--but it
was not the priest. A deep voice called the blind man's name--abruptly
and unceremoniously, in the manner of a samurai summoning an inferior:--

"Hoichi!"

"Hai!" (1) answered the blind man, frightened by the menace in the
voice,--"I am blind!--I cannot know who calls!"

"There is nothing to fear," the stranger exclaimed, speaking more
gently. "I am stopping near this temple, and have been sent to you with
a message. My present lord, a person of exceedingly high rank, is now
staying in Akamagaseki, with many noble attendants. He wished to view
the scene of the battle of Dan-no-ura; and to-day he visited that
place. Having heard of your skill in reciting the story of the battle,
he now desires to hear your performance: so you will take your biwa and
come with me at once to the house where the august assembly is waiting."

In those times, the order of a samurai was not to be lightly disobeyed.
Hoichi donned his sandals, took his biwa, and went away with the
stranger, who guided him deftly, but obliged him to walk very fast. The
hand that guided was iron; and the clank of the warrior's stride proved
him fully armed,--probably some palace-guard on duty. Hoichi's first
alarm was over: he began to imagine himself in good luck;--for,
remembering the retain