s big round as the trunk of a tree!

Watanabe knew at once that this was the arm of an ogre, so he drew his
sword and cut at it fiercely.

There was a loud yell of pain, and then the ogre dashed in front of the
warrior.

Watanabe's eyes grew large with wonder, for he saw that the ogre was
taller than the great gate, his eyes were flashing like mirrors in the
sunlight, and his huge mouth was wide open, and as the monster
breathed, flames of fire shot out of his mouth.

The ogre thought to terrify his foe, but Watanabe never flinched. He
attacked the ogre with all his strength, and thus they fought face to
face for a long time. At last the ogre, finding that he could neither
frighten nor beat Watanabe and that he might himself be beaten, took to
flight. But Watanabe, determined not to let the monster escape, put
spurs to his horse and gave chase.

But though the knight rode very fast the ogre ran faster, and to his
disappointment he found himself unable to overtake the monster, who was
gradually lost to sight.

Watanabe returned to the gate where the fierce fight had taken place,
and got down from his horse. As he did so he stumbled upon something
lying on the ground.

Stooping to pick it up he found that it was one of the ogre's huge arms
which he must have slashed off in the fight. His joy was great at
having secured such a prize, for this was the best of all proofs of his
adventure with the ogre. So he took it up carefully and carried it home
as a trophy of his victory.

When he got back, he showed the arm to his comrades, who one and all
called him the hero of their band and gave him a great feast. His
wonderful deed was soon noised abroad in Kyoto, and people from far and
near came to see the ogre's arm.

Watanabe now began to grow uneasy as to how he should keep the arm in
safety, for he knew that the ogre to whom it belonged was still alive.
He felt sure that one day or other, as soon as the ogre got over his
scare, he would come to try to get his arm back again. Watanabe
therefore had a box made of the strongest wood and banded with iron. In
this he placed the arm, and then he sealed down the heavy lid, refusing
to open it for anyone. He kept the box in his own room and took charge
of it himself, never allowing it out of his sight.

Now one night he heard some one knocking at the porch, asking for
admittance.

When the servant went to the door to see who it was, there was only an
old woman, very res