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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..adc7c18 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #65320 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65320) diff --git a/old/65320-0.txt b/old/65320-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 35ca014..0000000 --- a/old/65320-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3385 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Kibun Daizin, by Gensai Murai - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Kibun Daizin - From Shark-Boy to Merchant Prince - -Author: Gensai Murai - -Translator: Masao Yoshida - -Illustrator: George Varian - -Release Date: May 14, 2021 [eBook #65320] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Mary Glenn Krause, Charlene Taylor, Barry Abrahamsen, and the - Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - (This file was produced from images generously made available - by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KIBUN DAIZIN *** - - - - - KIBUN DAIZIN - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: - - “As the two boys were steadily gazing, up came the shark” -] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - KIBUN DAIZIN - - OR - - _FROM SHARK-BOY TO - MERCHANT PRINCE_ - - BY - - GENSAI MURAI - - TRANSLATED BY MASAO YOSHIDA - - - WITH ILLUSTRATIONS - BY GEORGE VARIAN - -[Illustration] - - NEW YORK - The Century Co. - 1904 - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - Copyright, 1904, by - THE CENTURY CO. - ──── - Published October, 1904. - - - - - THE DEVINNE PRESS. - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - PUBLISHERS’ NOTE - - -THE CENTURY CO. counts itself fortunate in being able to present to -young readers an admirable story from the Japanese, written by one of -Japan’s most popular novelists and filled with the spirit of that great -Oriental nation. The author of this story, Gensai Murai, was once a -student of the Waseda School, founded by Count Okuma, leader of the -Progressive Party in Japan. There he studied English Literature as well -as Japanese, and after completing his course of study he was employed by -one of the well-known Tokio daily papers, called the “Hochi,” to write -stories for it. His writings soon arrested the attention of the reading -circles in Japan. Several of his novels went through as many as ten -editions within two years. - -This story of Kibun Daizin is founded upon the life of Bunzayemon -Kinokuniya, a Japanese merchant of the eighteenth century, whose pluck, -wisdom, and enterprising spirit made him one of the most prosperous and -respected men of his time. He is much admired by his countrymen, and is -talked of familiarly, even to this day, by the Japanese, under the -nickname of “Kibun Daizin.” “Ki” and “Bun” stand for the initials of his -personal and family names, while “Daizin” means “the wealthiest man.” - -The shrewdness and dauntless ambition of the young hero of this story -will commend him to the admiration of American boys, and in Kibun -Daizin, as here pictured, they will find a true representative of the -wonderful nation which, within thirty years, has entirely changed the -modes of life that it had followed for more than twenty centuries, and -has suddenly fallen into line with the most civilized countries of the -world. - -The story was translated especially for ST. NICHOLAS, and many quaint -terms and expressions have been purposely retained, although the -pronunciation and meaning of the Japanese words are given wherever -necessary. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I AN AMBITIOUS BOY 3 - - II BUNKICHI PLANS TO KILL THE SHARK 23 - - III A BOAT CAPSIZED—A HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE 37 - - IV THE TABLES TURNED 54 - - V THE BATTLE OF STONE MISSILES—THE MONKEYS’ 75 - PANIC - - VI THE GREAT HAZARD—A PERILOUS VOYAGE 91 - - VII THE SEA-GIANT APPEARS 103 - - VIII AN ECCENTRIC FELLOW 118 - - IX THE GREAT CONFLAGRATION—THE CHARITY “BENTO” 135 - - X AMBITION SATISFIED—THE MERCHANT PRINCE 151 - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - - As the two boys were steadily gazing, up came the Frontispiece - shark - - “If you please, sir, are you the head of the 5 - Daikokuya?” - - “Why, it’s just like a real dragon-fly!” she 17 - cried, with delight - - The lad was in the air, suspended by the rope 49 - - Putting a rope round the body of the shark 57 - - As though they were stricken by thunder at the 69 - boy’s words, down they tumbled on the ground - - Giving him a helping hand, Bunkichi led the man 77 - along to the next village - - Hundreds of monkeys had drawn a circle around 83 - three men, whom they were pelting with a shower - of stones - - He drew his sword and ran toward the monster 111 - - Bunzayemon then put on a lordly air 129 - - Matahachi in the great fire at Yedo 143 - - “I have no words in which to express my thanks to 159 - you” - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - KIBUN DAIZIN - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - KIBUN DAIZIN - - OR - - FROM SHARK-BOY TO MERCHANT PRINCE - - - - - CHAPTER I - - AN AMBITIOUS BOY - - -“IF you please, sir,—” - -And, attracted by a voice behind him, a well-dressed gentleman turned -round and saw a boy of about thirteen or fourteen hurrying toward -him,—“if you please, sir, are you the head of the Daikokuya[1]?” - -Footnote 1: - - Pronounced Dy-ko-koo’ya, meaning “dry-goods house.” - -“Yes, I am,” answered the gentleman, eying the boy with surprise. “What -can I do for you?” - -“I come from Kada-no-Ura,” said the boy, making a polite bow, “and I -wish to ask you a great favor. Will you please take me into your shop as -an apprentice?” - -“Your request is rather a strange one,” said the gentleman, smiling. -“Pray tell me why it is that you wish to come to me.” - -The boy raised his head. “Oh, sir, yours is the chief business house in -Kumano, and I would be so glad if I might learn under you.” - -“You wish to become a business man, do you?” said the gentleman, with a -friendly nod; upon which the boy drew himself up and exclaimed, “Yes; I -mean, if I can, to become the leading merchant in Japan!” - -[Illustration: - - “‘If you please, sir, are you the head of the Daikokuya?’” -] - -The master of the Daikokuya instinctively studied the boy’s face. There -was a certain nobleness and intelligence about it; he had well-cut -features, a firmness about the lips, and quick-glancing eyes, and, -although his clothing showed poverty, his bearing was quiet and his -speech refined. These things confirmed the gentleman in the opinion that -the boy was not the son of any common man; and having, as the employer -of many hands, a quick eye to read character, he said: - -“Very good, my boy! So you mean to become the leading merchant in Japan? -A fine notion, to be sure. However, before I engage a boy, you know, I -must have somebody to recommend him, and he must give me references. -Have you any relatives in this place?” - -“No, sir; I know no one,” answered the boy. - -“Why, where have you been until now?” - -“I have only just come from my country. The fact is, I heard your name, -sir, some time ago, and being very anxious to enter your service, I left -my country all by myself to come to Kumano. But I have not a single -acquaintance here, nor anybody to whom I can turn. My only object was to -come straight to you; and I was asking a man on the road if he could -direct me to your house, when the man pointed to you and said, ‘Why, -that gentleman just ahead of us is the master of the Daikokuya.’ And -that is how it comes that I ran up to you all of a sudden in this rude -way.” - -There was a charm in the free utterance with which the boy told his -story, and, having listened to it, the gentleman said: “I understand. It -is all right. As you have no friends here, I will do without a -recommendation, and you shall come just as you are”; and, saying this, -he brought the lad back with him to his house. - -The Daikokuya, you must know, was the chief clothing establishment, or -“dry-goods house,” in Kumano, and did a larger business than any other -in the town. On arriving there, the master took the boy with him into an -inner room, and, telling his wife what had taken place, called the boy -to his side. “Tell me, my boy, what is your name?” - -“My name is Bunkichi.”[2] - -Footnote 2: - - Pronounced Boon-kee’chee. - -“Are your parents living?” - -At this question the boy hung his head sorrowfully. “I have neither -father nor mother,” he answered, with a choking voice and eyes filled -with tears. - -Filled with pity, the others asked him how long he had been left alone -in the world. - -“I lost my mother,” he said, “more than three years ago, and my father -only quite recently.” - -“And what was your family? Were you farmers or tradesmen?” - -“Neither one nor the other. My father formerly served under the Lord of -Wakayama, and received an allowance of eight hundred _koku_[3] of rice. -His name was Igarashi Bunzayemon;[4] but, losing his position, he came -to Kada-no-Ura, where we had to live in a very poor way. My father, -however, would never allow me to forget that the ancestor of our house -was Igarashi Kobunji,[5] who served in old days at Kamakura, and gained -a name for himself as a brave warrior. ‘And when you become a man,’ my -father used to say, ‘you must win your way to fame, and so uphold the -honor of the family; but, unlike the past, our lot to-day is cast in -peaceful times when there is little chance of winning distinction in -arms; but become, if you can, the leading merchant in Japan, and you -will bring honor to our house.’ Such was my father’s counsel to me, and -not long since he was taken with a severe illness and died. And now, if -you please, I wish to learn the ways of business, that I may become a -merchant, and I have journeyed to Kumano to throw myself on your -kindness.” - -Footnote 3: - - One _koku_ equals about five bushels. - -Footnote 4: - - Pronounced Ee-gar-ash’ee Boon-zy’e-mon. - -Footnote 5: - - Pronounced Ee-gar-ash’ee Ko-boon’jee. - -The gentleman listened to the boy’s clear account of himself and -expressed his admiration. “Ah! I was right, I see, when I thought you -were not the son of an ordinary man. Your ambition to become the chief -merchant in Japan is a high one, certainly; but the proverb says, ‘Ants -aspire to the skies,’ and anything is possible to a man who puts his -whole heart into his work. You are still quite young, I should say, -though you have come all the way from Kada-no-Ura by yourself, and -though you talk of your affairs in a manner that would reflect credit on -a grown-up man. Come, tell me, how old are you?” - -“I am fourteen,” he answered. - -“What, not more than that?” - -And the master’s wife, who was by his side, could not repress her -surprise, either. - -At this point the _shoji_, or paper sliding doors, opened, and in ran a -pretty little girl of about eleven. Her hair was drawn up into a little -butterfly device on the top of her head, which shook to and fro as she -ran up to her mother. Stretching out a small maple-leaf hand, with a -winsome look, she said: - -“Mother, please give me a cake.” - -“Why, my dear, where are your manners? What will our young friend here -think of you?” - -At this the child looked around, and, for the first time becoming aware -of the boy’s presence, turned shy and sat down. Looking gently in her -face, her mother then asked her what she had been doing. Afraid of the -stranger, she whispered in her mother’s ear: “I have been playing -_oni_[6] with Sadakichi in the garden. But I don’t like Sadakichi. When -he was the _oni_ he just caught me at once.” - -Footnote 6: - - A play similar to tag or prisoner’s base. - -“But that often happens in playing _oni_,” said the mother, with a -smile. - -“Yes, but he does it too much; he has no right to catch people in the -way he does, and I don’t wish to play with him any more.” - -“Well, if that is so, how would you like to play with Bunkichi here -instead?” - -Accepting it as one of the duties that might fall to him, to act as the -child’s companion and caretaker, Bunkichi, rather pleased than -otherwise, offered to go out and try to amuse her. The little girl -looked into her mother’s face, and then at Bunkichi. “Mama, how long has -he been here?” she asked in a low voice. - -“He only came to-day, but he’s a fine boy, and I hope you’ll be a good -little girl and show him the garden.” - -But the child’s thoughts seemed suddenly to take a new turn, and, -sidling up to her mother, she begged to be given a cake. The mother -opened the little drawer of the _hibachi_,[7] and, taking out two or -three sugar-plums, put them into her hand. The child then, with barely a -glance at Bunkichi, ran through the _shoji_ out of doors. - -Footnote 7: - - Pronounced he-bah’chee. A wooden fire-box where a charcoal fire is - kept for warming the hands. - -“Take care and don’t stumble,” her mother called out. “Do you mind just -seeing after her?” she said to Bunkichi, who at once got up and went out -on the veranda. - -No sooner was Chocho Wage,[8] or “Butterfly Curls” (so named from the -way in which her hair was dressed), outside in the garden than she began -quarreling with the boy from the shop. “No, Sadakichi; I’m not going to -play with you. Mama says that the other boy who has just come is a fine -boy, and I’m going to play with him.” - -Footnote 8: - - Pronounced Cho’cho Wah’gay. - -“What! another boy has come, has he?” - -“Yes; there he is. Go and fetch him.” - -Sadakichi called to Bunkichi, “You will find some _geta_[9] there, if -you will come out.” - -Footnote 9: - - Pronounced gay’tah. Foot-wear or wooden clogs. - -So Bunkichi came out to the garden. - -It was not a very large one, but it was a pretty spot, for beyond it -sparkled the bay that lay at the back of Kumano. Bunkichi had soon -joined the two others, and Sadakichi, turning to the little child, said, -“Well, shall we three play at _oni_?” - -“No,” she answered; “you are always catching me, and I don’t care to -play.” - -“I won’t catch you, then, Chocho, if you don’t like it.” - -“All the same, I’d rather not.” - -A thought struck Bunkichi, and, addressing himself to the child, he -said: “Would you like me to make you something? I would if I only had a -knife and some bamboo.” - -The child was at once interested, and told Sadakichi to go and get what -was wanted. So Sadakichi strolled off and brought a knife and some -bamboo chips. “Now, then, what are you going to make?” said he. - -“A nice bamboo dragon-fly,” Bunkichi answered; and, taking the knife, he -split a bit of the bamboo, shaved it fine and smooth, and fixed a little -peg in the middle of it. - -Sadakichi, quickly guessing what it was, said: “Ah, it’s a dragon-fly. I -know! I once went with the _banto_[10] to Kada-no-Ura, and every one -there was flying those dragon-flies, and, now I think of it, the boy who -was selling them looked just like you.” - -Footnote 10: - - Clerk. - -Not a bit disconcerted, Bunkichi replied: “Yes, you are quite right. I -was the boy who made them and was selling them.” - -“Bah! Mr. Dragon-fly-seller!” blustered out Sadakichi, with a face of -disgust. - -“Don’t speak like that,” said the little girl, turning sharply upon him, -and then to Bunkichi: “What made you sell them?” she asked, speaking out -to him for the first time. - -“My father was ill in bed,” he answered, continuing to scrape the -bamboo, “and, as our family was poor, I managed to buy him rice and -medicine by selling these dragon-flies.” - -Child as she was, this touching story of filial piety made her respect -Bunkichi all the more. - -“Oh, wasn’t that good of him!” she said, turning to Sadakichi. “Do you -think you could have done it?” - -“I—yes; only there would have been no need for me to sell dragon-flies. -I should have sold the wearing-things in our shop,” he answered, -arrogantly. - -[Illustration: - - “‘Why, it’s just like a real dragon-fly!’ she cried, with delight” -] - -Bunkichi had now finished making the dragon-fly, and, holding it between -his hands, he spun it round, and up it went into the air with a whirring -sound, and lighted on the ground again some five or six paces away. - -“Why, it’s just like a real dragon-fly!” cried the child, with delight. -“Do let me have it!” And, taking it in her hands, she tried to set it -flying, but she could only make it go up a little way. - -Then Sadakichi, wishing to try his hand, pushed forward. “Let me have -it,” he said, “and I’ll show you how well I can do it”; and, seizing -hold of it, with the force of both hands he sent it flying high into the -air. “There, now—see how it goes!” and, while the little girl was -watching it with delight, the dragon-fly flew over the wall fence and -dropped into the water beyond. - -The little child ran after it, followed by Sadakichi and Bunkichi. There -was a little gate in the garden, opening on a jetty. Through this they -passed and stood together on the plank, watching the dragon-fly tossing -about on the water. - -“Oh, I wish we could get it,” said the little girl, looking at it -wistfully; “if it would only come just in front of us!” - -“Take care,” said Sadakichi, holding her back, while the dragon-fly, -bobbing up and down among the ripples, gradually drifted farther off. - -Now Bunkichi, seeing there was a small boat lying alongside the jetty, -had said to Sadakichi, “Let me row out and get it,” and was drawing the -boat toward him, when he was abruptly stopped by Sadakichi. “No, no; you -mustn’t think of putting out from the shore. If you do, you are certain -to be eaten up by the _wanizame_.”[11] - -Footnote 11: - - Pronounced wah-ne-zah’may, meaning a huge shark. - -“Yes, it’s quite true,” chimed in the little girl. “There’s a horrid -_wanizame_ that prevents any one going on the sea. Only yesterday it -captured somebody.” - -“Yes—a young man from the brewery,” said Sadakichi. “He had some barrels -in his boat, and he had gone only two or three hundred yards when the -shark came up and overturned his boat and seized him.” - -“It doesn’t matter about the dragon-fly; I don’t want it; let us go back -to the house.” And the little child, frightened in good earnest, took -hold of Bunkichi’s arm. - -It was the first time Bunkichi had heard about the _wanizame_. “Is it -really true, miss, that there is a _wanizame_ in the bay?” he asked. - -“Yes; I can tell you it’s very serious. I don’t know how many people it -has eaten in the last month.” - -“Really! But how big is it?” - -“I don’t know what you would call big,” broke in Sadakichi. “But it’s -about as big as this house. If it sees a small boat, it overtakes it in -no time and topples it over, and if it is a big boat it gets in the way -and stops it so that it can’t move, and so the fishermen can’t go out, -and no cargo can come into the port. I suppose it must be want of food -that has brought it into this harbor; but, however that may be, it -thinks nothing of upsetting the small craft, so that for a month no one -has ventured out at all. Well, there was the brewer’s man. Yesterday he -thought it would be safe to go just a short distance, but he very soon -got swallowed up. And what is the consequence? Why, the fishing is -stopped, and there’s no trade, and the place is going to ruin. The -fishermen and hunters have tried over and over again to kill it with -spikes and guns and with all kinds of things. But what is the use? Their -weapons only snap in two or glance off its back, and they only get -killed themselves. So they have given up trying.” - -Bunkichi listened to every word, and then suddenly went into the house -and stood before the master. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER II - - BUNKICHI PLANS TO KILL THE SHARK - - -THE master and his wife were engaged in conversation, but on seeing -Bunkichi the merchant said, “Well, have you been to see the garden?” - -“Thank you, I have enjoyed it very much,” answered Bunkichi, politely. - -“Why, bless me, he has all the manners of a little _samurai_[12]!” -exclaimed the master to his wife. “There is no comparison between him -and the other boys. But dancing attendance on a little girl is not the -sort of employment for a lad who has the ambition to become the leading -merchant in Japan. No, no; he wants to get into the shop as soon as he -can and learn the ways of business—eh, my boy?” - -Footnote 12: - - Pronounced sahm’oo-rye. The _samurai_ were the military class of - Japan, corresponding to the knights of the middle ages in European - countries. - -The master exactly interpreted Bunkichi’s wishes, and Bunkichi felt very -grateful to him, but he only answered: “I shall esteem it a great favor -to be allowed to serve you in any way. But, master, with your leave, I -would ask you: Is it true, as I hear, that there is a _wanizame_ lately -come into this bay, and that people are suffering a lot of harm from -it?” - -“Ah, me! Yes, it’s a sore trouble, that _wanizame_; our fishermen are -doing nothing, our boat traffic is stopped, and if things go on in this -way the place will be ruined. All sorts of attempts have been made to -kill it, but, alas! all to no purpose.” - -Then respectfully, in a kneeling posture, approaching nearer, Bunkichi -thus addressed his master: “Master, in the request I am now going to -make of you, I fear you will put me down as a child with a vain, -childish notion of doing great things; none the less, I am bold to ask -you, in all seriousness, will you give me leave to attempt the -destruction of this _wanizame_?” - -The master exclaimed in astonishment: “What! You think that you are -going to kill the _wanizame_? It would be the greatest thing in the -world if you could, but already every means has been tried. Whaling-men -have tried to kill it with their harpoons, the hunters of wild game on -the mountains have tried to shoot it with their guns; but the _wanizame_ -has defeated all their schemes, and, to say nothing of the money it has -cost, several men have lost their lives in their attempts to kill it, -and our citizens have given it up as hopeless. Son of a _samurai_ though -you may be, this is no task for a boy of thirteen or fourteen. No; you -may have seen in the seas around Kada-no-Ura sharks of four or five feet -in length, but just go out to the hill above the town and look over the -bay until you catch sight of our monster. The very sight of it is enough -to terrify most people.” - -“You mistake me, master,” said Bunkichi, sitting up straight. “I have no -thought of trying my strength against the _wanizame_. But I have a trick -in my mind I should like to play, if you would allow me.” - -“Oh, it’s a trick, is it? And what is the trick our crafty youngster is -going to propose for killing the _wanizame_, I should like to know?” -said the master, smiling. - -“The plan I have is simply this: First, to make a straw figure and to -fill up the inside with poison. Then I shall dress it in a man’s clothes -and take it out into the bay, and, when we see the shark coming, throw -it out to him to eat. Sharks are senseless creatures and ready to eat -anything, so he is sure to swallow the straw man, and if he does the -poison will at once take effect and kill him. That’s my plan; what do -you think of it?” - -“Yes; I think your plan of making a straw man is not at all a bad one, -and I have little doubt, as you say, that the shark would swallow it. In -that case it would certainly die and we should be free at last from our -great calamity. But wait a minute; I am afraid, when the doll is made, -there is nobody who will venture to take it out to the sea. People have -had so many bitter lessons from trying to kill this shark that, however -much money you offer, no one, I fear, will agree to take it out into the -bay.” - -Bunkichi without any hesitation replied: “I will undertake the task of -taking the doll out for the shark to swallow. As I grew up by the -seaside at Kada-no-Ura, I can row a boat well and can swim better than -most people. I saw a boat just now fastened at the jetty in your garden. -Please lend it to me and I will go out alone upon the bay.” - -Astonished by the audaciousness of the lad, the master said: “It is too -wild an idea, my boy. What if the shark upsets your boat? He will -swallow you up in an instant.” - -“As to what you say about drowning, that doesn’t disturb me at all. -Suppose I have no luck and lose my life, there is nothing to be -regretted if by my death I succeed in removing the great calamity under -which many are now suffering. And, as I said before, it is my -determination to become the leading merchant of Japan; but if I am to -realize my ambition I must be prepared to run many risks. If fortune -favors me I shall come safe through them and attain my object; if, -however, this first venture goes against me, and I go out to sea and -fall a prey to the _wanizame_, it simply means that I must accept it as -the decree of fate, and, as far as my life is concerned, I am quite -ready to risk it.” - -The master, who was much struck by his fearless determination, worthy of -the boy’s descent, said to him, “Indeed, your magnanimity is greater -than ours, but for that very reason we should be all the more sorry to -lose you.” - -Saying this, he turned round to his wife, who whispered in his ear: “I -quite agree with you: if he be swallowed up by the shark, we couldn’t -possibly get another like him; send some other one instead!” - -Just then in came the girl, attended by Sadakichi, who had long been -waiting for the boy, and said, “Bunkichi, please be quick and make me -another dragon-fly.” - -Her mother, however, at once stopped the girl, saying: “Come, come; -Bunkichi has something else to think about besides dragon-flies: he’s -just saying that he wants to go out to sea and kill the _wanizame_.” - -The girl was startled, for she was only a child. “Does he go alone?” - -“Yes, that is what he says he will do.” - -“Don’t, please, mother; I don’t like your sending him to sea.” - -“Why, my child?” - -“I want him to make me a bamboo dragon-fly.” - -His curiosity aroused at hearing the little girl speak of the -dragon-fly, the father said, “What do you wish him to make for you?” - -“Oh, father, it’s a bamboo dragon-fly—an amusing toy which flies up -high, whizzing,” was her confident answer. - -“Ah, I see,” he remarked, as he understood the girl’s request; “that -flying bamboo thing I often see when I go out on the streets. The toy, I -remember, was first made by a boy of great filial virtue in a certain -country district, and even here they talk about him; it is clever of -you, Bunkichi, to have learned how to make them.” - -Then Sadakichi interrupted, saying: “No wonder! Why, he was the hawker -of the toy; I know all about it, as I saw him selling it at -Kada-no-Ura.” - -“Are you, then, the inventor of the toy?” asked the master, to whom the -boy at once replied in the affirmative. The master, who was more than -ever struck by the boy’s character, said, “Are you, then, the same boy -whom all the people talk about and praise for his devotion to his -parent?” - -Then the girl, who remembered what had been told her a little while -before, said: “Father, his family was very poor, and, as his father was -laid up on his sick-bed, he sold those dragon-flies and bought medicine -or a little rice for the family. He told me so.” - -As she was listening to this conversation, tears stood in the mother’s -eyes, and she said: “He is really a model boy, is he not? I can’t -possibly let him go to sea.” - -The master, who was much of the same way of thinking as his wife, -answered, “Of course, I have been persuading him to give up his idea”; -and, turning to Bunkichi, said, “Yes, do give it up, my boy.” - -And the girl, seemingly with the intention of inspiring the boy with -dread and deterring him from his purpose, remarked solemnly, “Oh, it is -dreadful to be swallowed by the shark on going to sea!” - -Bunkichi, having once determined, was immovable. “Sir, trading to a -merchant is the same that fighting is to a knight. It has been ever -regarded honorable in a knight that he should hazard his life many a -time, even in his early youth. If fate be against him, he will be put to -death by his enemy. The knights of old faced the dangerous issues of -life or death as often as they went out to battle. As they attained to -renown by passing through these ordeals, so, too, must the merchant who -aspires after a leading position not shrink from braving many dangers in -his life. Sir, methinks the present is the opportunity given me to try -my hand; and if fate sides with me and I succeed in killing the -_wanizame_, in future I shall have courage to venture out on other great -undertakings. If one begins to be nervous at the outset, one will go on -being nervous forever; but there is no fear, I think, for a man who is -ready to sacrifice even his own life.” - -The master, meeting with such unflinching determination, knew not how to -stop him, but said: “I must confess you have more in you than I thought. -I am ashamed of myself to be thus taught by you the secret of success in -trade when I should be in a position to teach you. Well said, my boy; -trading is to a business man what fighting is to a knight. If you begin -by being weak and timid, you will never be capable of bold enterprise. -If you have a mind to divine your future by embarking on this exploit, -go in for it with all your might. As to the preparations for making the -straw man, as far as buying the poison is concerned, I will do it all -for you. You had better go up to the mountain yonder, and ascertain the -place where the shark is generally to be seen coming up to the surface. -You, Sadakichi, had better take him up to the Sumiyoshi[13] bluff, and -point him out the monster if it should come up and show itself on the -surface of the water in the mouth of the harbor.” - -Footnote 13: - - Pronounced Soo-mee-yo’shee. - -Bunkichi, who was much delighted at having gained his wish, said: “Then, -sir, please let an apothecary prepare a lot of drugs which are likely to -be the best poison for a _wanizame_, and I will go and have a lookout -for the appearance of the monster.” - -As he was about to start, the girl asked him, in a little voice of -remonstrance, “But when will you make a dragon-fly for me, Bunkichi?” - -“When I come back, miss,” was his reply. - -“Come, come; he can’t be bothered about such a trifle now,” said her -mother. - -Meanwhile the two lads, Bunkichi and Sadakichi, hand in hand, went up to -the Sumiyoshi bluff, which stood just outside the town on the eastern -side of Kumano Bay. The mountain rose precipitously from the sea, whose -fathomless water washed its southern base. A thick forest of pines -covered the mountain, and the vibrating of their needle foliage in the -breeze added a strange harp-like accompaniment to the perpetual roaring -of the waves below. On reaching the summit, Bunkichi threw himself down -on a knotty root of pine near the edge of a precipice and gazed out on -the broad expanse of Kumano Bay. As far as his view reached, no shore -could be descried; only the line where the dome of the azure sky circled -the deep blue of the ocean. - -After sitting thus in silent contemplation for a few minutes, Bunkichi -suddenly turned round and said to Sadakichi: “Sea scenery is always fine -to look at, isn’t it? I am fond of this sort of rough sea. I should like -to have a swim in it.” - -“Don’t talk such nonsense; you would no sooner get into it than you -would be swamped,” was the reply. - -“That’s just what I like. I should dive deep down into the water and get -out of the whirlpool. And now, tell me where it is the _wanizame_ -generally pops out its head.” - -“It generally comes out just below this headland,” the other answered, -“at the mouth of the harbor.” - -As the two boys were steadily gazing on the surface of the water, sure -enough, up came the shark, and startled Sadakichi by cleaving the water -with its back. Whether it was in frolic or in quest of prey, the monster -swam to and fro, now showing its head and now its tail. Its rock-like -back and its iron-like fins were horrible enough to inspire even men -with awe. - -Sadakichi, feeling nervous at the sight, said to his companion, -“Bunkichi San, now you see the monster, you will be for giving up your -grand job, I fancy.” - -“What! You don’t suppose I’m frightened, do you,” was his scornful -retort, “at the sight of such a little fish?” - -“What do you say?” said the other. - -“Well, if the chance came in my way, I might even kill a leviathan or a -crocodile!” - -As these two were thus talking, a gust of wind from the high Nachi -Mountain swept down on the forest of Sumiyoshi and awakened the myriad -tiny harps of the pines, while the waves rolled one after another -against the rocks below. These sounds combined to drown the voices of -the lads, one of whom seemed to be persuading the other that it was time -to go back, while the other seemed to be insisting on staying a little -longer to enjoy the wild scenery and to think over the issues of his -scheme. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER III - - A BOAT CAPSIZED—A HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE - - -THE master of the Daikokuya, who had been much struck by the wisdom and -courage of Bunkichi, lost no time in going to an apothecary to get -plenty of the poisonous stuff for the _wanizame_, while he ordered some -of his men to prepare the straw dummy. - -In course of time the two lads, Bunkichi and Sadakichi, came back from -Sumiyoshi bluff. The master welcomed them into his own room, and said: - -“How now, Bunkichi? Did you see the shark?” - -“Yes, sir, I saw it,” was the reply. - -“And now that you have seen the monster are you less disposed to go out -to sea?” - -“No; on the contrary,” replied the lad, “I am the more ready to go.” - -“Isn’t that obstinacy on your part?” - -“Not in the least, sir,” the lad said, as he drew himself up; “the -greater the opponent, the greater the interest and strength that are -called for; and I am about to do this at the risk of my life. I well -observed the spot where the shark comes up, and noticed a large -pine-tree which projects over the sea from the precipice. If some one -will let fall a stout rope from one of its branches, I will row over to -it, and there I shall entice the shark to swallow the straw dummy; then -if the shark, in plunging about, should upset my boat, I shall take hold -of the rope and climb or be hauled up the precipice.” - -The master, who was once more struck by words which showed so much -sagacity as well as courage, said: - -“That’s a very good idea of yours. Then this is what we shall decide to -do, is it? I shall send out some of my young men to the Sumiyoshi bluff -to fix a rope to the pine branch from the precipice, and you will tie -the rope to your waist before you go out on your venture. I and others -will stand upon the cliff and watch you, and should you be in danger of -being swallowed by the monster, we shall lose no time in hauling you up. -Is that to be our plan of action?” - -“Yes, that’s the plan,” was the boy’s reply. - -“Well, then, I have bought the poison, and can soon have ready as many -as three dummies. When do you think of setting out?” - -“Now, at once,” answered Bunkichi. - -“That is rushing it too quickly, my lad. Wouldn’t it be better for you -to wait till to-morrow?” remonstrated the master. - -“Unless things of this kind are done quickly and made easy work of, some -obstacles may arise and frustrate our plans; so I will just do it with -as little concern as you snap your fingers,” said the lad. - -“You can’t do things so lightly as you say,” was the master’s reply. - -And his wife, who had been listening, and who regretted having given her -consent to the boy’s rash project, added: “Bunkichi, do stay at home -to-day and spend it in preparation and do the work to-morrow.” - -And the little girl also said: “I don’t care for your going to sea.” - -But Bunkichi, having once made up his mind in the matter, was not to be -moved by any one’s entreaties. - -“Then, by your leave, sir,” he said, “I will take that little boat at -the jetty.” And without more delay he rose up to go. - -His master knew not how to stop him, but said: “No, no; that small boat -is dangerous; and, if you must go, you had better go out in the -_temmabune_.”[14] - -Footnote 14: - - Pronounced Tem-mah-bonn’ay. A larger boat. - -“No, sir,” said the lad; “the _temmabune_ is too big for me to row -alone, so I prefer the small one.” - -“But I am in great concern about your personal safety if you go alone,” -said the master. “I will give ten _rio_ to any one who will go with -you.” - -Though he quickly made known this offer to the members of his household -as well as among his neighbors, no one ventured to offer himself on -account of the people’s repeated and terrible experiences. Bunkichi -soothed his master, saying that he was much freer if left to act by -himself than he would be if there were others with him. Quickly putting -the three dummies into the small boat outside the garden gate, with -marvelous coolness, as if he were going out for pleasure, he said: -“Good-by, everybody; I will go now, and be back again soon.” - -The master, who was first to stir, led out to the jetty some of his -young men as well as some strong coolies. Three or four big ropes having -been made ready, he said: - -“Now, Bunkichi, tie one of these to your waist.” - -“It’s no use, sir, till I get near the mountain,” replied the lad, but -the master said: - -“But just think, if on your way out the shark should turn up! We shall -pull you along the coast while you will row as near as you can to the -land.” - -Bunkichi, who couldn’t resist the master’s persuasion, let him tie the -rope round his waist, and the master himself took hold of the end of it -and together with others went along the shore toward Sumiyoshi bluff. - -Bunkichi, having been brought up at the seaside, was an excellent rower, -but as they pulled along the rope he rowed but slightly. Suddenly he -took out a dagger which had been handed down from his ancestors and -unsheathed it, smiling as he noted the temper of the steel. - -Who spread the news no one knew, yet the people in the town came out in -a crowd, and every one was surprised to see a boy, alone in a boat, -sallying forth to kill the monster. - -“Isn’t he a wonderfully courageous boy!” - -“He is no common boy. Perhaps he may yet be as famous as our great hero -Kato Kiyomasa.”[15] - -Footnote 15: - - The conqueror of Korea in 594 A.D. - -“Isn’t he cool!” - -“Hasn’t he wonderful presence of mind!” - -Such expressions as these escaped from everybody’s lips. Thus praising -him as they went along, the crowd followed the master. - -From among the crowd an old woman stepped out with a rosary in one hand -and said to the master: - -“Sir, please let me hold the rope, _Namu-Ami-Dabutsu_.”[16] - -Footnote 16: - - An expression used in one of the Buddhistic prayers. Among a certain - class of Japanese it was believed that by repeating this phrase - frequently their chances of going to heaven were increased. - -The young men turned to her and said: - -“Ill omen! Don’t say such a thing as _Namu-Ami-Dabutsu_. This is not the -rope for you to pull.” - -In spite of the taunt she still muttered the sacred charm of the Buddha -sect, saying: - -“But do let me hold it. I am the leader in pulling timbers for the -repairing of the Hongwanzi[17] temple. Yet I must have my share, because -I am sure that the lad is a hero sent by Buddha himself to save us from -our troubles. _Namu-Ami-Dabutsu_,” repeated the woman. - -Footnote 17: - - The headquarters of the Buddhist religion in Kioto. - -Just then a maid-servant carrying a little girl on her back came along -the shore after the woman. The latter turned to the little girl and -said: - -“Ah, you are the daughter of the Daikokuya. Do you want to pull this -rope, too? _Namu-Ami-Da—_” - -The girl wouldn’t listen to her words, but, looking intently at the boat -in the distance, called out aloud, “Bunkichi!” - -The other bystanders, who heard the name for the first time, said: “Ah, -his name is Bunkichi, is it?” and at once shouted, “Bunkichi Daimiozin,” -which is a title they give to the gods. - -The lad, taking little notice of the stir on the shore, soon came to the -foot of the bluff. The master and others went up the hillside along the -edge of the precipice, while the lad began to prepare for his task. - -The long summer day was already declining and a cool breeze from the far -ocean blew about his broad sleeves, and the voice of the crowd grew -fainter and fainter as, hidden by the pine-trees, they wound their way -up to the top of the hill. Yet now and then Bunkichi heard his master’s -voice faintly calling to him, to which he made reply to assure him of -his safety. Looking out toward the ocean there was no sail or boat to be -seen, probably owing to the people’s fear of meeting the shark. A -checkered bank of white and dark clouds was massed on the sky above the -horizon, while the waves chased one another below. - -Any ordinary man would have quailed at such a scene as this; but -Bunkichi, with no sign of nervousness, put the straw figures in the bow -of the boat and proceeded toward the place where the shark usually made -its appearance. He could now see the master and others above the -precipice as they began attaching the rope to a strong limb of the -sturdy pine which projected seaward. Thus all the preparations were made -for hauling him up at the given signal, while the lad was also preparing -himself for the encounter and reconnoitering the scene from his boat. - -At last the iron-like fin of the monster was seen to cleave the water. -Apparently rejoiced at the sight of a man, as Bunkichi’s figure must -have been now and then reflected on the water, the shark in quest of -prey raised its head above the water and made for the boat. - -“Come on, you villain,” muttered the lad, who stood up in the bow with -the dummy in his hand. - -The terror-stricken young men at the top of the precipice no sooner saw -the monster than they were on the point of pulling up the rope; but the -master stayed them, saying: “Steady, men, steady! Wait till he gives us -a signal.” - -The master anxiously watched the lad’s action, while the crowd hardly -breathed as they stood still with hands clenched. - -With a splash, Bunkichi threw the figure in the way of the _wanizame_; -the shark turned over, the white portion of its body gleamed, and it -snapped the stuffed figure, drawing it under the water. Up it came -again, and the lad threw out the second dummy; but the monster did not -take any notice of it, but made straight for the lad. Above, on the top -of the precipice, the master awaited Bunkichi’s signal with breathless -interest, but no signal was given yet. With his dagger drawn in one hand -and raising the third straw figure in the other, Bunkichi threw it at -the enemy’s head. Whether it was that the poison was already taking -effect or that the charm of the noted sword frightened the monster, it -turned back on a sudden and retreated a few yards. Before the anxious -crowd could divine the next movements of the shark, it began to plunge -about in and out of the water on the farther side of the boat. Then, -seemingly in agony, it swam about with almost lightning speed, now -toward the shore and now toward the ocean, and the sea became like a -boiling whirlpool in which the little boat seemed every moment in danger -of being overwhelmed. - -Bunkichi, who saw his plan had succeeded, at once began to row back. At -this juncture, as fate would have it, the monster made a sudden dash at -the boat, which was at once overturned. The signal had hardly been given -when, after a moment of awful anxiety, the lad was in the air, suspended -by the rope. The monster again made a mad rush, only to bruise its head -against a rock, and with weakened strength returned toward the deep, -riding on the retreating tide. - -[Illustration: - - “The lad was in the air, suspended by the rope” -] - -As for Bunkichi, the rope was drawn up steadily and with care, and he -soon found himself safely perched on the stout branch of the pine. - -The master of the Daikokuya, when he saw Bunkichi once again on solid -ground, never uttered a word, but took his hand and put it on his -forehead in token of his unutterable gratitude, while tears of joy -flowed from his eyes. The others knew not how to do otherwise on the -sudden alternation from dread to joy. - -After a while Bunkichi left the crowd and went to the most commanding -position on the precipice and gazed down upon the sea, and saw the shark -on its back floating to and fro, the sport of the waves. His joy knew no -bounds, and he said: - -“I thank you all; I have been saved by your help. The shark now seems to -be dead.” - -These words he uttered with his customary coolness, showing that he had -not been at all frightened by the terrible experience he had passed -through, while the others could hardly yet shake off the dread they had -felt. - -Addressed thus by the lad, the master now recovered his speech, and -said: - -“No; it isn’t _you_ who have been saved by _us_, but _we_ who have all -been saved by _you_. The shark dies and the people live, or the shark -lives and the people must die. I have no words to express my gratitude -to you. And now we must get back as soon as possible and let the people -know the joyous news.” - -While the master thus hurried the others to go back, Bunkichi stopped -him and said: “Sir, if we leave the shark as it is, it may revive. It is -a pity to leave it, now that it is as good as killed. Let us haul it up -by the aid of the rope. It seems that the boat, which was upset, has -drifted to the base of the bluff. Let some of us get down and bail the -water out of it, and I will, with the help of you all, try to secure the -shark.” - -The master agreed to the proposal and called for volunteers, but in -vain. Some young fellows pretended to be ill, and others suspected the -shark might yet be alive and swallow them if they went near it. - -At last, however, the master prevailed on a few of them to go down with -the lad to help him. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - THE TABLES TURNED - - -BUNKICHI, with the help of a few others, set the boat up, and, bailing -the water out, got in and went out again to sea. Putting a rope round -the body of the shark, which was being tossed about by the waves, they -drew it close to the foot of the bluff. While Bunkichi by himself rowed -back home, the young men dragged the dead monster along the coast toward -the Daikokuya. The crowd on the bank applied themselves as one man to -the task, and got hold of the rope, and the shark was finally landed. -Amusing it was to see that old woman pull hard along with the rest. - -After this heroic deed the reputation of Bunkichi spread through the -length and breadth of Kumano town, and he was nicknamed as the -_Wanizame-Kozo_, or Shark-Boy; but who started the name no one can tell. -His exploit, however, was soon carried to the ear of _Odaikan_,[18] and -this great person himself came down to the shore and made a thorough -inspection of the monster. Ten pieces of silver were awarded by the lord -of the province to Bunkichi in recognition of his noble services in -putting a stop to the scourge of the town. The master was proud of -Bunkichi, and the town people rejoiced at his good fortune. - -Footnote 18: - - The name given to the local magistrate in olden days. - -The size of the shark which the lad killed was more than three _ken_, or -some eighteen feet in length, and its skin was so hard that the sharpest -sword could not pierce it. The dealers in swords vied with one another -in the offers they made the master for the skin, for they knew it would -make an excellent binding for sword-hilts. Bunkichi asked his master to -sell it, and the transaction was soon made, and the master handed over -the whole of the price to Bunkichi as the fruit of his brave deed. The -lad would not even touch it. He had heard, he said, that the fishermen -in the neighborhood, from not being able to go out as hitherto on -account of the shark, were in great straits even for their daily food, -and therefore he wished to distribute the money among them. The proposal -was at once accepted, and the money was divided either among the people -who had suffered on account of the shark, or among the bereaved families -whose members had fallen victims to its voracity. - -That Bunkichi was possessed of courage, his actions had abundantly -proved; the people were now profoundly struck by his moral virtue since -they had received his alms. The name of _Wanizame-Kozo_ soon got its -suffix _Sama_, or its equivalent in English of “Mr.,” and whenever he -appeared in the streets everybody, whether personally known to him or -not, seemed to thank him by making him the most courteous obeisances. - -[Illustration: - - “Putting a rope round the body of the shark” -] - -In course of time, as the people in remote country places came to hear -of Bunkichi’s exploit, they pressed in large numbers to the shop of the -Daikokuya, not so much to buy clothing as for the purpose of seeing the -little hero’s face. From that day the master doubled the amount of his -daily receipts, as his trade prospered. Because of the prosperity -brought to the house by the lad, the household of the Daikokuya accorded -him special treatment, quite different from that given the other boys in -the shop; in fact, he was treated as if he were the son of the family. -But Bunkichi, on his part, served his master better than the other boys -were able or willing to. In spite of his master’s forbidding him, he was -first on the scene in the morning to sweep the street in front of the -shop and to put the shop in order and to sell goods to customers however -early they might come. Then, having carefully settled accounts at the -close of the day, he would devote his evenings to the mastery of the -abacus and to writing Chinese characters. His praiseworthy behavior -impressed everybody who saw or heard him. - -Two or three months passed in this way, and the lad’s fame became ever -greater, and further prosperity was brought to the house. Then the -master took counsel of his wife: - -“As we haven’t any boys, Chocho being the only child we have, sooner or -later we shall have to adopt a son. I don’t care to have any one of -whose intentions and character I know nothing. Rather it would please me -to have Bunkichi as our foster-son. What do you think about this?” - -His wife said gladly: - -“I agree with you, my husband; he would be just the one to whom to leave -the conduct of the business, and if we could make him our adopted son, -what a pleasure it would be! You had better do it quickly.” - -The master pondered awhile and then said: - -“But, you see, he hopes to become the leading merchant in Japan, and -thereby to raise the name of his ancestors; therefore he would not like -to be adopted into another family. This would be the first hitch in the -arrangement, I fancy.” - -“No, my dear; our intention, of course, is to give him the whole of this -our property—and that certainly should be sufficient inducement to any -one.” - -“No, I think not,” said the other, as he put his head on one side in -contemplation; “he is not the boy who will prize such a small property -as ours. I don’t care to run the risk of humbling myself by speaking to -him rashly. What I want is to ascertain his intention at some opportune -moment.” - -Sadakichi, who had been playing in company with the little girl on the -veranda outside the _shoji_, first heard this conversation, and one day -told Bunkichi about it. The latter said to himself: - -“My intention has been to win fame and thereby to raise our ancestors’ -name, so it would never do for me to be adopted into another family. -Trouble will come if I stay here any longer, and I shall be put in such -a strait that I shall feel obliged to fall in with this proposal.” So he -thought he would do best to leave the house quickly and try his hand -independently at some trade. - -One evening he sought his master and said: - -“Sir, it is rather an abrupt request to make of you, but I have -conceived a plan by which I can earn money; so please let me trade by -myself. As capital to start with, it will be sufficient for me to employ -those silver coins which I received for reward and which you have kept -for me.” - -The master, without knowing the lad’s secret intention, said: “If you -wish to trade on your own account, I will lend you capital or give you -any help you want; but what is the plan you have in mind?” - -“It’s simply this, sir. Since the disappearance of the _wanizame_ the -people nowadays get an abundant catch of fish, and in consequence I hear -there is a scarcity of fishing-tackle, nets, and their belongings. So I -wish to go up to Osaka and get a supply.” - -The master made one clap with his hands in token of his approval, and -said: - -“Well thought of, my lad! If you get a supply from Osaka now, you are -sure to reap a good profit. Besides, all the fishermen round about here -received your alms and regard you as one of the gods. If they hear of -your selling fishing-tackle, they will gladly come to purchase of you. -But you cannot transact the business by yourself alone, so I will send -some one to assist you, and also I will lend you as much capital as you -wish. Therefore, go and make whatever investment you think necessary.” - -Bunkichi did not wish to receive this favor, as he intended trading -without the help of any one. - -“Sir, let me trade with my own capital alone without any other help in -this instance,” he replied. “Only, when the cargo comes, will you please -give it storeroom for me?” - -As the master knew Bunkichi would not be induced to accept others’ -advice when he had definitely made up his mind, he said: - -“Very well, then; you may try to manage for yourself. No other boy of -your age could transact the business, but probably you may succeed.” -Thus saying, he went himself and brought a packet of money. - -“This is the money I have been keeping for you.” And then he produced -another packet which contained fifty pieces of silver, saying: - -“This is only a trifling recognition of your services in the shop, by -which we have enjoyed much prosperity; I hope you will accept it.” - -Bunkichi again and again refused to accept this additional gift, but in -vain, for the master almost forced him to receive it, and said: - -“When you come back from Osaka, you will stay again with us, won’t you?” - -Bunkichi hesitated and stammered out: “Yes, sir; I might trouble you -again, though I intend to continue in some trade of my own.” - -“Of course you may go in for whatever trade you like, and if you can -conveniently carry on your trade while you stay at my house, please make -yourself at home in it, and do not think that you need help in my shop -on that account.” - -As Bunkichi had no other home, he accepted this kind offer for his -future protection after his return, and the next day, when he had -prepared himself for the journey, he left the Daikokuya for Osaka. - -Though he was a boy in appearance, his mind was equal to that of a -full-grown man. At the time of his leave-taking, the master was -insisting on getting him a through _kago_, or Japanese palanquin, to -Osaka, which he had refused as unnecessary. In his courageous onward -march he came to a lonely part of the road; he was, however, well used -to traveling, owing to those early days of wandering when he sold the -dragon-flies for the support of his family, and by the experience of his -lonely journey to Kumano. But in this present journey, as he carried -with him a great sum of money in his pocket, he felt somewhat encumbered -and could not walk as lightly as he wished. - -On the afternoon of the day when he came to the mountainous region he -was well-nigh tired out, and he hired a _kago_ to carry him. The coolies -no sooner put him into the palanquin than they started off at almost a -running pace, and after a short time they turned off from the highway -into a bypath. The lad called out, in suspicion: - -“Aren’t you taking a rather strange road?” - -Both coolies answered in one voice: - -“This is a short cut, lad.” - -As they went on they got more and more into the wilds of the mountains, -and Bunkichi thought to himself that they might belong to that class of -rascals who prey on the traveler’s pockets. Nevertheless it was too late -to do anything against them, so he kept himself in perfect peace by -determining not to show that he suspected them. - -When the coolies were come to a trackless thicket, they put the _kago_ -down, and, thinking to pull out the boy, looked in and found him fast -asleep. - -They stared at one another in astonishment and said: “Why, he is -sleeping! The fellow takes life easy, eh? Come, my boy, get up! get up!” -and one of them poked him on the shoulder, and the other, taking hold of -his foot, pulled him out. - -Bunkichi rubbed his eyes and yawned twice or thrice. - -“Well, Mr. Coolie,—I mean you two,—what’s the matter?” - -The coolies said somewhat fiercely: “Look here; you’ve got some money -with you, haven’t you?” - -He answered in perfect coolness, as if nothing had happened, “Yes, I -have.” - -They thought more and more the lad was a pretty easy simpleton to deal -with, and said: “We knew you had some fifty or sixty _rio_, and that is -why we brought you here. Come, now, hand out all you’ve got, for if you -refuse you’ll suffer for it.” - -The lad burst out into laughter, saying: “If you want the money you -shall have it”; and he took out the wrapped package of money and threw -it down in front of them. - -The coolies, seeing the perfect composure of the lad, wondered who this -boy could be, and they began to grow nervous, and one of them said in a -whisper to the other: “May he not be a fox?” - -“We don’t know but what this money may turn into tree-leaves,” was the -answer, and both looked into the boy’s face. - -The boy said, as he smiled: “You cowardly thieves, are you afraid?” - -He stepped out a pace before them, while they stepped back a little and -said, “We are not afraid,” visibly suppressing their fear. - -The lad peered into their faces. “If you aren’t afraid, why do you -tremble so?” - -“We’re cold; that is why.” - -[Illustration: - - “As though they were stricken by thunder at the boy’s words, down they - tumbled on the ground” -] - -“You cowards! Take the money and be gone!” - -The coolies looked at each other, and wouldn’t take the money up into -their hands, while the lad stood firmly grasping the hilt of the dagger -of Kiku-ichi-monji within his pocket, ready to fight it out in case they -might treat him roughly. - -They were thoroughly outwitted by the audacity of the lad, and said: -“Where have you come from?” - -“Kumano is my home.” - -One of them turned pale. “Why, maybe he is the Shark-Boy!” - -“Yes, I am that very boy,” retorted the lad. - -No sooner did the coolies hear this than they cried with one voice: “Let -us up and be gone!” As they were about to turn on their heels, Bunkichi -said, as he drew his dagger: - -“If you run off I will cut you in two.” - -As though they were stricken by thunder at the boy’s words, down they -tumbled on the ground, and could not rise in spite of themselves. “Only -spare our lives, if you please!” - -As they begged for mercy, the lad coldly smiled, saying: “What is it you -fear?” - -“Please spare us! We cannot bear the thought that you will finish us off -as you did the _wanizame_,” they gasped in a trembling voice. These -coolies had heard of his brave deed in killing the shark, and they -thought that he had killed it by a feat of swordsmanship, and that he -was a warrior general like him of Ushiwaka-maru[19] of old. He at once -perceived what was the cause of their fear, and said: - -Footnote 19: - - A boy hero who learned fencing from a mountain elf in the wilderness - of Atago. - -“Are you weaker than the _wani_?” - -“No, sir; we sha’n’t be beaten by the _wani_,”—though they still -trembled. - -Bunkichi resheathed his short sword as he said: “Then take me to where -we agreed.” - -With a prompt “Yes, sir,” they rose up, while the lad got into the -palanquin. They took up the money and nervously brought it to the lad, -who said as he glanced at it: - -“Put it on the top of the _kago_.” - -“We’re afraid it may drop down unnoticed,” was their answer. - -“It’s too heavy for me to carry; tie it somewhere where it will be -safe.” - -Then the coolies tightly tied the package to the pole by which the -_kago_ was carried. He did not take the money with him again, for fear -that they might harm him in case their avaricious temper got the upper -hand and they should make off with it. - -The coolies, however, had no courage left to renew their attempt; but -they went on most solemnly and steadily, as though they were carrying -the _tengu_.[20] Bunkichi, finding the situation rather too quiet and -tame, addressed them: “Do you often play the part of villains?” - -Footnote 20: - - A mountain elf. - -“No, sir. It was the first time, sir. We were tempted to the wickedness -when we saw you were carrying a lot of money; we knew it by your manner -of walking.” - -“I don’t believe you. I suspect you have committed villainous acts a -good many times, but henceforth there must be an end of them.” - -“Yes, sir; we have had a lesson and sha’n’t try that game again!” - -The lad laughed and said: “That is interesting!” This was a peculiar -exclamation he used often to make. - -Meanwhile Bunkichi came to a certain station where he got out of the -_kago_. He gave the coolies something extra to their fare, while warning -them against the continuance of their evil practices. - -No sooner had they got their money than they slunk away as quickly as -they could. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER V - - THE BATTLE OF STONE MISSILES—THE MONKEYS’ PANIC - - -HAVING stayed that night at an inn, Bunkichi hastened on his way along -the Hama-Kaido, or the “shore road.” When he came to a lonely spot in -the road, he saw a man in the distance, scantily clad, apparently making -preparations for hanging himself. On ran Bunkichi and caught hold of the -man, asking him at the same time why he had come to such a pass as to -attempt suicide. - -“I am a certain Kichidayu, a native of Sakai in Izumi Province, and a -sailor,” answered the man, while tears stood in his eyes as he spoke. “I -was in charge of a ship of one thousand _koku_,[21] and on my voyage to -Yedo with a cargo of _sake_[22] my boat was wrecked off this coast and -the crew of eighteen, all told, as well as the whole of the cargo, were -lost. Fortunately I was washed up on the coast while I was holding fast -to a piece of board, but having been terribly knocked about, I can -hardly drag myself along. Besides, the loss of the ship, the cargo as -well as the crew, overpowers me with such a sense of disgrace and -wretchedness that I thought I would rather die than go back to my native -town.” - -Footnote 21: - - Forty thousand gallons. - -Footnote 22: - - A kind of Japanese liquor. - -Bunkichi, while he was listening to the sad account of the wreck, -surveyed the man from head to foot, and perceived many severe bruises, -which—with his honest manner of speaking—seemed to prove the truth of -his words. - -[Illustration: - - “Giving him a helping hand, Bunkichi led the man along to the next - village” -] - -“I quite sympathize with you in your misfortune,” said he, “but, my man, -your dying will not bring back the ship which was wrecked nor the men -who were lost; so I think it would be better for you to keep yourself -alive and atone for your loss by succeeding with your next venture. But -without money you can’t even go to a doctor. So allow me—” - -Taking out five pieces of silver and putting them in the hand of the -sailor, he continued, kindly and soothingly, “With these get a doctor at -once, my man.” - -The captain, as he looked into Bunkichi’s face with an expression almost -of worship, said: “You are the kindest man I ever came across, in spite -of your apparent youthfulness. As long as I live I shall not forget you, -and some day, perhaps, I may have an opportunity to repay you for your -goodness to me.” - -While he said this, tears rushed from his eyes—for he was overcome by a -sense of gratitude and joy. - -Bunkichi, having taken off his _haori_,[23] said to the man: “Put this -on, though it is not sufficient to protect you, and come on with me to -my next stopping-place.” Though the seaman was reluctant to accept so -generous an offer, Bunkichi urged him, and, giving him a helping hand, -led the man along to the next village, where they found an inn, into -which they went. There a suit of clothes was purchased for the sailor, -and the lad recounted the story of the wreck to the old woman, the -keeper of the inn, and asked her to send for a doctor, who on arrival -did whatever he could for the poor man. - -Footnote 23: - - A Japanese upper garment. - -Bunkichi, who thought it likely he might be of more service to the -sailor, said, in answer to his question: “I have no house of my own, but -you will find me if you ask for one Bunkichi at the Daikokuya, a cloth -establishment at Kumano. You, being a sailor, are sure to find any -amount of work if you go there; so please look me up. I am in a hurry; I -cannot stop here longer. On my way back from Osaka I shall call upon -you. If you are well before then, you had better go to Kumano and wait -for me there.” - -Thus kindly holding out hopes of helping him in the future, he gave the -old woman a sum of money for the nursing of the sailor, and hurried on -his way. - -Going on from one hotel to another, and resolving to lose no time, -Bunkichi at last arrived in the city of Osaka. As he had received a -letter of introduction from his master to a certain wholesale merchant -of the city, with whom the Daikokuya had dealings, he went to this -merchant and asked for the articles he had been commissioned to buy. The -head of the house, acquainted with the _wanizame_ affair by the letter, -did everything in his power to assist Bunkichi, and the transaction went -off smoothly and quickly. After he had sent off the fishing-tackle to -Kumano on board a ship, he spent a few days in sight-seeing as well as -in observing the ways in which big merchants carried on their trade. -Having thus spent four or five days here, Bunkichi once more took the -same road home, and on the way inquired at the inn after the captain -whom he had left there. To his great joy, the sailor was well on the way -to recovery; so he gave the man some more money for his further needs, -and hastened on to Kumano-Ura, having promised to meet him again there. - -On the day following that on which he had taken leave of the sailor, he -came to the hilly roads near Kumano. This part of the country was noted -then, as it is to-day, for the production of oranges. All over the hills -he saw orange-trees in abundance, and there, strange enough, he heard a -great noise of screaming and chattering. He hastened his steps in the -direction of the noise. Lo, and behold! Hundreds of monkeys, -uncountable, had drawn a circle around three men, whom they were pelting -with a shower of stones. These wretched men, as they were apparently -unable to withstand the stone missiles of the monkeys, had pulled their -over-coats, or _haori_, over their heads and were crouching under an -orange-bush, apparently in despair, for they were doing nothing but -crying for help. - -[Illustration: - - “Hundreds of monkeys had drawn a circle around three men whom they - were pelting with a shower of stones” -] - -As the animals apparently thought it great fun, they kept on showering -stones as quickly as they could pick them up, and it seemed probable -that the three men would have fallen victims to the monkeys but for -Bunkichi. When he saw how things were going, quick as thought he picked -up a lot of pebbles from the wayside and filled both his spacious -sleeves and his front pocket as well. Thus well armed, on he rushed to -the monkey army and pulled out of his pocket the pebbles, one after -another, throwing them at the frisky creatures. The monkeys, as they -screamed and chattered, at once confronted the lad, and, perceiving him -pull out stones from his breast, they tried to do the same. But of -course they had no pockets with stones in them, while Bunkichi threw his -missiles thick and fast. The beasts in their rage began to pull off the -hair from their breasts and throw it from them, while their -monkey-chatter grew louder and louder as their pain increased. - -Bunkichi, who could not suppress his laughter, contrived, as it were, to -discharge the missiles from his breast while actually bringing out the -stones from his sleeves. As the monkeys drew closer to him, still -pulling off their hair, the three men were now given time to breathe. -They at once came out from their hiding-place, and, scolding the -monkeys, began to pick up stones to help in their turn their deliverer -in his stand against them. - -The youth cried out, as he quickly perceived their action: “No! No! -Don’t _pick up_ stones! If any of you have the instruments for striking -fire, set fire as quickly as you can to the dry grass.” The men did as -they were told, and as the wind fanned the fire the smoke and flames -soon spread over the ground. The army of monkeys, thinking the day was -lost, set up a great chatter and, jumping from tree to tree, -disappeared. - -The men now recovered from their fright, and, having put out the fire, -thanked Bunkichi and said: “We are most grateful to you, sir. If you had -not come we should almost to a certainty have been stoned to death by -the monkeys.” - -“It was a narrow escape, wasn’t it?” remarked Bunkichi, “but I am -curious to know—did you not throw stones at them first?” - -“Yes,” replied the men, with animated expression. - -Bunkichi could not help smiling as he thought of how they had acted, and -said: “You know monkeys are foolish animals and try to imitate whatever -others do.” - -“You seem to know everything,” said the men, who were much struck by his -wisdom. “But where have you come from?” - -“I live at Kumano,” was the reply, “but was brought up at Kada-no-Ura; -so I know about monkeys, as we have plenty of them there.” - -Then the leading one of the three, making a polite bow, urged Bunkichi, -saying: “I am the owner of this orange farm, and my home is not far from -here. Please come to my house.” - -On the way thither he asked the boy his name and where his home was. - -“I am one Bunkichi in the establishment called the Daikokuya, at -Kumano,” was his frank answer. - -The host, having well observed the lad’s face, said: “Ah, that’s why I -thought I had seen you somewhere. Then you are that widely famed Mr. -Wanizame-Kozo, the Shark-Boy! The people in this neighborhood owe you a -great debt of gratitude, because all the fruits produced here in this -part, oranges among other things, when they are sent either to Tokio or -to Osaka, must first be sent to Kumano-Ura to be shipped to those -cities. But ever since the appearance of that monster in the harbor, all -the shipping trade had come entirely to a standstill, and we had to send -our fruits to other ports by a roundabout way, which was a great -nuisance to us; whereas, owing to your wisdom and courage, we can now -send our cargo to Kumano as we did before.” - -After a pleasant visit of an hour or two, Bunkichi was about to start. -The host stopped him for a minute and brought out a little packet of -money, and, placing it before him, said: “This trifle is only a token of -my gratitude to you. Please take it.” Looking at it from the outside, it -certainly seemed no trifle; but the lad firmly but politely declined to -accept it, saying: “You have no need to thank me.” And he would not take -it, in spite of the host’s earnest entreaty. At last he said: “I don’t -wish to receive any recompense from you; however, I have one favor to -ask if you will grant it me. I am thinking of trading on my own account -before long in various articles, and if I come here some day to buy -oranges, will you deal with me?” - -“You make a very modest request,” answered the host with ready assent. -“I will supply you with a cargo as cheaply as possible at any moment you -send me the order, and as to the payment, I shall be in no hurry for it; -you may pay me whenever you like. I can supply you with thirty thousand -boxes of oranges from my own farm; and there are many more farmers in -the neighborhood who will be glad to supply you if I let them know that -you are the Wanizame-Kozo. At least I can assure you I will fill your -order, however large it may be.” - -With many thanks, Bunkichi took his leave and was back in the Daikokuya -that evening. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - THE GREAT HAZARD—A PERILOUS VOYAGE - - -THE cargo of fishing-tackle which had been sent from Osaka had already -arrived at Kumano and was awaiting his return, so Bunkichi took his -goods to the fishing villages round about Kumano for sale. The people -vied with one another in buying them, on account of their being sold by -Mr. Shark-Boy. Owing to the price of tackle being then much higher than -at other times, as a result of the scarcity of the supply, he made such -a good sale that the profit doubled the cost of his outlay. - -Taking care not to waste the money thus obtained, he next opened a trade -in oranges, buying them at a cheap rate from the owner of the orange -farm and retailing them at Kumano when the market value was high. By -this means he made another good profit; still he stayed on in the -Daikokuya as his temporary home, and applied himself to business. Thus -by the end of the next year he had saved several times the amount of his -original capital. - -Meanwhile Kichidayu, the sailor to whom he had given kind help, came to -him after he had completely recovered. Bunkichi asked the master of the -Daikokuya to employ him. He consented, and committed to him, in the -capacity of captain, the management of a big ship. - -Now Kichidayu’s devotion to Bunkichi was so great that he was ready to -sacrifice his own life for his sake if occasion should arise. “I admire -your determination immensely, and as I owe my life to you, you may count -on me for any assistance in my power,” said the sailor to the boy one -day. - -Bunkichi rejoiced on hearing this and said, laughingly: “When the time -comes in which I shall make my fortune, such property as the Daikokuya -possesses I will create in ten days.” - - * * * * * - -Four years had passed, during which time Bunkichi had done well in his -business, trading in various articles, and a portion of his profit he -now and then distributed among the poor people in the district. He was -now eighteen years of age. It was the autumn of the year, and from the -beginning of the month of October a westerly wind had been blowing many -days. As a consequence, the shipping trade at Kumano-Ura was entirely -stopped. Yet a cargo of oranges bound from Kii Province for Yedo[24] was -accumulating at Kumano-Ura and beginning to rot away on account of the -warm climate of the province. From Yedo had been received vain messages, -by the _hikiaku_, or running postmen, urging them to send up the -oranges, the necessary fruit for the _Fuigo Matsuri_, or bellows -festival, which was then at hand. Yet the sea became rougher every day -as the wind grew stronger, while the frowning autumn sky hung overhead. -The people could not possibly put out any ship nor do anything but stare -and grumble at the rough sea and the lowering clouds. - -Footnote 24: - - The old name of the great Japanese city now called Tokio. - -Every day Bunkichi went down to the seashore also, and looked at the -dark sky as every one else did, yet he alone had a certain expression of -suppressed joy in his face. The others said, “We hope this stormy -weather will come to an end soon,” while he answered, “I hope it will do -nothing of the kind.” - -They were surprised at this and said, “Why, what’s the matter with you?” - -“Who can tell?” he answered, laughing. While he was thus engaged in -casual talk, Kichidayu, the sailor, came to look at the condition of the -sea. On seeing him the lad beckoned him aside by a tree and said: -“Kichidayu San, when do you suppose this wind will cease?” - -“I wish it would stop soon,” he answered, “but it doesn’t look like it, -I fear.” - -“No, I shall be greatly disappointed if it stops within two or three -days.” - -“Well, there’s not much chance of its doing so,” was the sailor’s -answer. - -“That’s good,” the boy replied. “Before it stops what do you say to -having a sail in a boat from here to Yedo? It would be fine, wouldn’t -it?” - -Kichidayu stared at Bunkichi in astonishment and said: “Don’t joke, -please. If we were to put out a boat in this rough sea, it would capsize -in no time.” - -“That’s just where the interest lies. Wouldn’t Kichidayu San like to try -it for once?” said the lad, while the other replied, laughing, “Don’t -carry your joking too far!” - -Bunkichi became serious. “Kichidayu San, I’m not joking. If it was an -east or a north wind it would be difficult, of course, but being a west -wind, it’s a fair wind toward Yedo, however strong it may be, and so -there is no reason why we should not be able to get to Yedo.” - -Kichidayu, who thought that Bunkichi was saying rather a strange thing, -answered: “If we should have good luck, I don’t say that it’s -impossible; however, I do say it could only be a question of good luck.” - -“That’s just where the interest lies,” said the lad again. “One can do -anything that others can do. But it’s a fine thing for a man to go to a -place when others can’t go. Kichidayu San, the time has now come to make -that fortune of money of which I told you once, because in Yedo the -price of oranges, which are one of the necessaries of the bellows -festival, has gone up ten times higher than at other times, on account -of the scarcity of the fruit. Here, in this port, where the oranges have -accumulated because they can find no customers, the price has gone down -ten times lower than the rate at which they usually sell. So, if we can -buy at a price ten times lower than the usual rate, and sell at a price -ten times higher than the usual rate, naturally a hundred _rio_ will -make ten thousand _rio_. There isn’t likely to come such a good chance -twice in a lifetime. As to the ship, I will ask the master of the -Daikokuya to let me have a big one, and if he does, will you captain it -for me? I intend to take out in it a large cargo of oranges to Yedo -while this bad weather prevails.” The lad thus for the first time -revealed his ambitious scheme. - -Kichidayu folded both his arms on his breast in contemplation. Then, as -he lifted his head, he said: “I will make the attempt—yes, even to Yedo, -for your sake; I don’t grudge even my life. What if my ship gets -wrecked? I don’t care. But are you thinking of coming on board?” - -“Of course; if I don’t go, the business can’t be effected,” said -Bunkichi. “Trading is the same as a battle. In one of the battles of old -the warrior Yoshisune set us an example by attacking the army of the Hei -clan in the province of Shikoku by sending out the war vessels from -Daimotsuga-Ura on a stormy night. If we lose courage in such weather as -this, we cannot possibly accomplish any great scheme. We shall enter -upon it resolutely. Should we die, let us die together. If I gain my -object, I will handsomely reward you. - -“We shall have to offer sailors ten times their usual pay,” continued -Bunkichi; “you may then, perhaps, find fellows who will be willing to -come. Will you be responsible for finding them?” So saying, he gave the -captain money for the purpose, and, having intrusted the matter to him, -at once went home to the Daikokuya and saw the master. - -“Danna,” said he, “among your ships the oldest is that _Tenjin-maru_[25] -of one thousand _koku_ burthen, is it not?” - -Footnote 25: - - A Japanese junk. - -The master, who was somewhat startled by the abruptness of the question, -said: “Yes, she is getting to be an old vessel now, and I am thinking of -breaking her up.” - -“Will you sell her to me?” - -To which the master answered: “If you want her, I don’t mind making you -a present of her; but what use will you put her to?” - -“I’m thinking of taking a cargo of oranges to Yedo,” was the lad’s -reply. - -“When the bad weather is over, I suppose?” said the master. - -“No; while this stormy weather is prevailing,” was the reply. - -The master was startled, but gazing on the boy for a moment, merely -remarked: “What an extraordinary idea!” - -After a little hesitation, Bunkichi drew nearer to the master. “Pray, -master, sell her to me,” said he; “I am again going out on a trading -battle.” - -Then the master understood his real intention and said: “Well, if you -are so minded, you may not be afraid of this storm; but the -_Tenjin-maru_ is in any case a dangerous ship for this weather; so I -will lend you one which is more seaworthy.” - -“No, thank you, sir; I have no wish to borrow,” replied the lad. “This -undertaking is a matter of fate. If I am wrecked on the way out I cannot -give you your ship back again; so I shall not borrow things of others, -for I wish to do everything on my own capital.” - -The master knew the boy’s nature and made no further objection, but -said: “Very well, I will sell her to you. You will surely succeed. Come -back again laden with treasure!” - -Chocho, the master’s daughter, who was now sixteen years of age, -overheard the conversation between the two and was much surprised, and -expressed her anxiety as well as her sorrow in her face, and said: “Does -Bunkichi go to Yedo in this storm?” The mother, too, longed to stop him, -but could not well interfere, because her husband had already yielded -his sanction to the boy’s scheme. She only said, loud enough to be heard -by both, as she answered her daughter: “Yes, Cho, it is most dangerous -to go out to sea in this great wind and storm!” To which the girl -responded: “Yes, mother!” - -Bunkichi, having paid the price of the _Tenjin-maru_ to his master, went -to the wholesale stores which were best known to him and bought up their -oranges. The merchants, as they were sore oppressed by the rotting of -the fruit, were in the state of “panting blue breath,” as they say. -Bunkichi, in a somewhat off-hand manner, said to one of them: “Do the -oranges rot every day?” - -“Yes, every day we are much troubled about it; they rot away -continually. Already half of the stock we have is spoiled; if it goes on -at this rate, within another ten days our whole stock will be lost.” - -Whereupon the lad said: “Are you really prepared to sell them at -whatever price you can get for them?” - -“Oh, yes, gladly; for how much better would it be to sell even at a loss -than to pay for throwing the rotten stuff away!” - -To which Bunkichi answered: “If that is the case, I will buy from you at -sixteen _mon_ per box as much stock as you have.” - -The merchant was taken aback at the reply, and said: “Isn’t that _too_ -cheap?” - -“But if they rot away, you will get nothing. I am not over-keen to buy,” -said the lad, coldly; “so if you don’t wish to sell, we need not have -any further talk.” - -“Just wait a minute,” and the merchant stayed the lad as he was about to -leave. “I will sell at sixteen _mon_ a box if you will buy up my whole -stock.” - -“Yes, the whole lot,” said Bunkichi. “I will buy as many thousand boxes -as I can put into a large ship.” Thus he bought up the whole stock of -that store and then went on to another, buying up the whole stock of -each at a very low price. Then he sent a man to the orange farm and -collected some more. Having procured a large stock, he put it all on -board the _Tenjin-maru_ so that, albeit the ship was one of a thousand -_koku_ burthen, its keel sank deep into the water. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - THE SEA-GIANT APPEARS - - -AS Captain Kichidayu sought for sailors by holding out to them promise -of wages ten times more than they could get at other times, he soon -picked up six sturdy fellows who did not set much value on their lives. -Thereupon he reported his success to Bunkichi, who was rejoiced over it, -and said: “Then all things are ready now; we shall settle to start in -the morning, and I will send to the ship ten pieces of long square -timbers. You will place them crosswise on the ship and attach to their -ends heavy stones so that she will not upset easily,” he continued, with -his usual audacity and resourcefulness. “For I have heard that ships -which sail about those far-off islands, Hachijo and Oshima, and the -like, are fitted out in this way and sail in safety even in heavy -storms. That is why in Yedo they call those island-ships ‘sea-sparrows’: -the weight being on both sides of the ship, they never upset.” - -Kichidayu was much struck by his keen observation, and said: “Truly, it -didn’t occur to my mind that those ships are fitted out as you say, but -now I recollect having seen them off the coast of Izu Province. As they -are thus constructed they never capsize, however much they are washed -over by waves.” - -“Now, Kichidayu San,” Bunkichi said, “this ship is called the -_Tenjin-maru_, but our going out to sea this time may mean going to her -destruction, so let us change her name into _Iurei-maru_, or ghost-ship, -and let us imagine ourselves to be dead men by putting on white clothes. -Thus nothing that may occur can scare the crew; for, being ‘dead’ men, -they can have no fear of death.” - -The captain agreed with him, saying: “That’s a splendid idea.” - -The captain returned to his abode in high spirits and told to the six -seamen what the lad had said, and they all readily agreed to the plan, -and were so stirred by the lad’s courage that they were ready to face -any dangers or fears that might come to them. - -Bunkichi at once ordered a man to paint on the sail of the ship: -“_Iurei-maru_” in large Chinese characters, and at the cloth -establishment of the Daikokuya, he ordered eight suits of white clothes. - -“Bunkichi,” inquired the astonished master, “what is the use of those -eight suits of white?” - -Bunkichi laughed as he answered: “We may all be dead men before long, if -we go out to sea in this storm. The chances of surviving are few, so we -are already dead in heart. I have named my ship _Iurei-maru_. We are -going to dress in white with the _zudabukuro_[26] and we shall stick -triangular-shaped papers on our foreheads, as they do for the dead.” - -Footnote 26: - - The purse tied round the neck of the dead at a burial service in - Japan. - -“What horrible things you do!” exclaimed the wife, while the daughter, -Chocho, with sudden inspiration, said: “I will sew your white suit for -you.” - -“I am most grateful,” replied the lad, “but I have already ordered -others to do it for me.” - -“Please let me do it,” said the girl. “It may be the last—” and at this -Bunkichi consented with thanks. - -The master, who seemed to have prepared beforehand, ordered _sake_ and a -set of little dishes of eatables to be brought forth, and then remarked: -“As you have settled to start to-morrow I intend to offer you a -congratulatory feast in advance, hoping that you may arrive at Yedo and -have good luck and make a great profit.” - -At last the morrow came, and early in the morning Bunkichi bade farewell -to the men of the Daikokuya and put on his white suit, which was made by -the daughter of the house, and went out to the seashore. The master, as -well as his wife, with their daughter, Chocho, and all the employees in -the shop, followed him in order to see him off. Having heard of his -departure, some of the townspeople with whom he was acquainted, and -those poor people who had received his alms, flocked together from the -four corners of the town to bid him good-by. - -Having bade farewell to the people, Bunkichi entered a small boat and -soon got on board of the _Iurei-maru_. Those who came to see him off, as -they stood around the shore, raised their voices, calling out for -Bunkichi, lamenting his departure. Bunkichi gave a signal for the anchor -to be weighed and the sail to be hoisted; then the ship soon stood out -to sea. Both the men on the shore and those on board the ship waved -their hands till their forms had become indiscernible, while the ship, -driven by the strong west wind, soon became lost to sight among the big -waves. - -Though the _Iurei-maru_ had her sail up only seven tenths of its whole -length, she sailed on eastward with the speed of an arrow, owing to the -strong wind. In a very short time she passed the Sea of Kumano, and then -soon was in the Sea of Isè. As she came to the noted Yenshiu-nada on the -evening of that day, the wind grew stronger and the rain came down in -torrents. As the huge waves, mountain-high, came rushing from the far -ocean and the ship was tossed like a tree-leaf, the crew felt as if they -were flung down into the abyss of darkness when she got into the trough -of the waves. Those six robust men, who had hitherto worked with steady -and fearless courage, suddenly gave in before this state of the sea and -lost all heart for labor. Nevertheless Captain Kichidayu, as steady as -ever, ran about here and there, stirring the crew up to their work. - -Among the eight men all told, the one most unaffected by the dreadful -state of the sea was Bunkichi, the _Wanizame-Kozo_, and he, with the -captain, lent a helping hand to the tired crew, calling out -occasionally: “Hurrah! This is fine! We shall get to Yedo within the -next day. Work hard, all of you, and you sha’n’t want for pay!” And then -he doled out money to the crew, who were encouraged by this and braced -themselves up and labored their best. - -Meanwhile night fell and the storm continued. Though nothing was visible -to the eyes, the awful sound of the waves, and the wind, which shook -masts and rigging, deafened the ears; and the heaven and the earth -seemed to be swallowed up by the waters. - -By degrees the crew’s courage began again to fail and one of them -muttered: “This is just the sort of night for some big monster like a -_wanizame_ to appear!” To which another said: “Yes; I feel a bit -nervous, too.” - -“Come, men; a little more perseverance!” shouted out Bunkichi. So -saying, he again gave them an extra wage and continued: “You fear the -_wanizame_, do you? I rather think the _wanizame_ will be afraid of me -because I’m the _Wanizame-Kozo_. Take heart, all of you! Don’t be -afraid!” - -The men were cheered up and said: “Truly enough, you once killed the -_wanizame_. We needn’t be afraid! Now, all right, sir; we’re rid of our -fears!” - -However, their courage was of but short duration; when they gazed at the -dark, angry sea they again lost heart, saying: “But, sir, what shall we -do if the _umi-bozu_[27] comes up—if it is true, as the people say, the -monster lives in this ocean?” - -Footnote 27: - - An imaginary giant of the sea. - -Bunkichi, as he gave them a scornful smile, stood up with his dagger in -his hand and said: “I’ll sweep him down with this sword if any such -creature makes his appearance.” - -[Illustration: - - “He drew his sword and ran toward the monster” -] - -Just then the man on watch suddenly shrieked: “Ah! the sea-giant has -come!” And he ran back toward the stern while the others were frightened -out of their wits and ran down into the cabin where they drew their -heads back between their shoulders and held their breath in fear. -Bunkichi looked toward the bow. Sure enough, a big undefined dark form -rose at the front of the ship, about ten feet in height. He drew his -sword and ran toward the monster. As he swept the giant down with his -sharp weapon, he laughingly returned toward Kichidayu, who stood by the -mast. - -“What was that?” Kichidayu asked Bunkichi, who answered, still smiling: -“It _did_ look like a round-headed giant, but really it was only a -column of mist which came floating in our way. That’s what they call the -‘sea-giant,’ I suppose, and in their fright they fancied it was coming -on board to seize them.” - -Kichidayu, who was much surprised at Bunkichi’s courage, said: “Indeed! -I understand now how you could kill the _wanizame_, by the courage you -have just shown, and which I cannot but admire. To speak the truth, I -didn’t feel very bold myself when I saw that big dark form, but I -screwed my courage up so as not to be laughed at by you.” - -As the crew had not yet come out of their cabin, Kichidayu called out: -“Now, men, come up; your master has killed the giant. Come quick, -quick!” - -The crew trooped out at this, and said: “Truly we heard a shriek a -little while ago!” At which Kichidayu muttered, “Fools!” - -During the night, however, they got over the Sea of Yenshiu in this -manner, and in the very early morning of the third day they were -entering the Bay of Yedo. Gradually the sea was becoming much smoother. - -“We are safe, master. We can, too, be quite at ease in our hearts!” said -one of the men. “Ah! I see the headland of Haneda there. Beyond that -there’s the Bay of Shinagawa. If we go forward at this rate we shall be -at Yedo by dawn: I feel safe now. But I felt that I would be eaten alive -when I saw the _umi-bozu_ at the Yenshiu-nada Sea.” - -Then Bunkichi said, as he laughed: “You don’t know what you are saying. -We have been all along dead men in white suits, and for dead men to have -been alive is an absurdity!” Then all, for the first time, burst out -into merry, hearty laughter. - -Captain Kichidayu turned to Bunkichi, saying: “Master, what a voyage! In -a couple of days and nights we sailed the distance which takes about ten -days at other times. That we have come here safely through this storm is -due to your contrivance of laying the timbers crosswise on the boat; but -for that we should certainly have capsized.” Then he turned to the -sailors and added: “What say you, my men? Is there any one who could -beat him in wit or in courage?” - -“No, there’s not another like him,” all replied in one voice. “He killed -the _wanizame_ as well as the _umi-bozu_, and so long as we are with him -there is nothing on earth to be dreaded. Please, sir, employ us under -you for years to come. We shall never again play cowards as we did, -sir!” - -Bunkichi replied: “I fear you would never face the _umi-bozu_.” To which -they could say nothing, but scratched their heads in silence. - -Though the wind was still high, after the storm through which they had -fought their way out, the inland seas seemed to them “as smooth as -matting,” as the saying is, and soon after dawn all hands on board the -_Iurei-maru_ arrived safely at Yedo. - -At that time in Yedo the orange merchants, in spite of the stress of -weather, had been eagerly awaiting orange-ships from Kishu Province -every day, on account of the nearness of the bellows festival. And this -was the only ship that did not disappoint their expectations. When the -ship’s arrival was known, the joy of the merchants was beyond -description, and soon this popular song immortalized the happy welcome -of the orange-ship: - - On the dark sea beholden - A sail, a white sail! - Whence does it hail? - From Kishu’s far shore - It brings precious store - Of oranges golden. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - AN ECCENTRIC FELLOW - - -WHEN all the wholesale dealers in oranges in the vast city of Yedo heard -that an orange-ship had at last arrived from Kishu, they vied with one -another in coming to Bunkichi’s ship and buying up his oranges. The -inevitable result of the rise in the price of oranges was to make him a -gainer of more than fifty thousand _rio_. - -Bunkichi, after this, carefully reasoned out that on account of the -recent continuance of the west wind no ship could possibly have sailed -from Yedo to Osaka, so that there must be a scarcity of salted salmon in -that city, while there was now an abundant and specially cheap supply of -them in Yedo. So he thought he would take a supply over to Osaka and -make another great profit. - -When he spoke of this plan to his men they were ready to go, for his -sake. Thereupon Bunkichi bought up a cargo of salted salmon, and, -putting it on board, waited for the return of better weather. Nor had he -long to wait. As a reaction, as it were, to the stormy westerly wind, in -a few days an east wind began to blow, and, availing himself of the -first opportunity, he hoisted sail. He soon entered the harbor of Osaka, -and there he again made a profit of tens of thousands of _rio_. - -Every speculation he had planned was crowned with success, and in little -more than a month he had amassed the enormous sum of near upon a hundred -thousand _rio_. He was aided in this success largely by the exertions of -Kichidayu, and gave him one thousand _rio_ out of the profit, while he -handsomely rewarded every one of the crew, who were all greatly -delighted at their good fortune. - -Captain Kichidayu, taking his money with him as a present to his family, -returned to Sakai, his native town, where he met again his dear wife and -children after his long absence, and then went back to Osaka. Thence he -accompanied Bunkichi to Kumano-Ura. - -At Kumano the news of his safe arrival at Yedo had been received at the -Daikokuya and by the townspeople with the liveliest satisfaction. They -had been waiting eagerly for his return. Sure enough, Bunkichi had come -back on board that very _Iurei-maru_, and the people, whether they were -personally known to him or not, flocked round him with their -congratulations. - -From that day the master of the Daikokuya treated him as his guest, -while the people of the town respected him as a gentleman, and no one -called him the Wanizame-Kozo any more. - -On his arrival home Bunkichi recounted all his transactions to the -master of the Daikokuya, and then went at once to the merchants from -whom he had bought the fruit that he sold in Yedo. “I thank you for the -cargo of oranges you sold me some time ago at such a cheap price,” said -he. “I made a great profit by that cargo, but I don’t like to be only a -gainer myself while you all are losing your money, so I’ll give you -double what I then paid you for the oranges.” - -On account of this unexpected liberality they were very grateful to him, -and his fame went abroad all over the province of Kii, and everybody -began to know him, and whenever he wanted to invest in any goods, he had -no difficulty in getting all he wished. - -The day came at last when Bunkichi determined to go up to the great city -of Yedo to make his name famous in the whole of Japan by trading on a -large scale. With this resolve, he negotiated with some of the big -merchants of Kumano as to whether they would make a contract with him to -send up all their oranges and timber to his shop as their only agency in -Yedo. As they were already under a debt of obligation to him, every one -of them agreed to do his best to keep Bunkichi’s store in Yedo well -supplied. Bunkichi was greatly rejoiced, and, on this occasion traveling -overland, he arrived at Yedo in due time and established himself in the -Hatcho-bori district, under the name of Kinokuniya.[28] This happened in -the second year of the Sho-o era (1653 A.D.), when he was nineteen years -of age. Then he changed his name Bunkichi into Bunzayemon (his father’s -name), and began to trade on a large scale in timber and oranges from -Kishu, selling them to the whole city of Yedo. Thus his prosperity -increased. - -Footnote 28: - - House of the Kino Kuni (country of Kii). - -One day a master carpenter, who had the entrée to the house, came to see -Bunzayemon, saying: “I have come to consult with you on a rather strange -matter. How would you like to engage a man for your business?” - -“Well, it all depends on what kind of a man he is,” was the reply. - -“He is rather an eccentric sort of fellow. If I tell you plainly about -him there will be little chance of your employing him; but the strange -thing is that he wishes me to do so. ‘If Bunzayemon will employ me, -good; if he will not employ me, he is a fool, and I don’t want to be -employed.’ Those were the very words he said to me, and added, to my -surprise: ‘As for you, if he hasn’t the sense to engage me, you needn’t -regret losing such a customer as he is.’” - -“I don’t wonder you were surprised,” replied Bunzayemon; “but what has -he been hitherto?” - -To this question the carpenter replied: “He is the second son in a -warrior family; but as far as I can see he is an idle, lazy man. There -are many of his kind in the world, as you know; but he is rather an -extreme type of the class. He doesn’t like to get up early nor to move -about at any time. In spite of his being dependent on me for his -support, he doesn’t hesitate to demand to live in luxury. And then he -has the impudence to request me to recommend him to you.” - -Bunzayemon meditated awhile and then said: “It’s rather interesting, -what you tell me. At all events, bring him here.” - -“Do you really mean to engage him? You had better give him up.” - -To which the merchant replied: “When I see him I shall decide whether I -shall engage him or not. Bring him here first!” - -Then Seihachi, the carpenter, went home, fearing inwardly lest he should -lose his customer by bringing this man to Bunzayemon’s notice, though he -could not help acceding to the man’s request. - -After a time Bunzayemon heard high words in the front of the shop. One -of the voices he recognized as that of Seihachi, who was exclaiming: -“Chobei San, you ought not to go in by the front door; manners should -compel you to go to the back door. And don’t give yourself airs here; if -you do I shall be disgraced.” - -To this the other replied: “What are you talking about? We are not dogs; -why should we go round to the kitchen?” And so saying, the young man -stalked up to the shop called Kinokuniya, in spite of Seihachi’s -remonstrance, and asked somewhat loudly: “Is the master at home?” - -Hearing him, Bunzayemon entered the shop from the inner room. - -No sooner did Seihachi see him than he began to apologize: “Master, I am -more sorry than I can tell you, and I beg your pardon for this fellow’s -rudeness.” As he spoke he was holding Chobei by the sleeve. - -Bunzayemon, without heeding the apology, civilly welcomed the strange -guest, saying: “Come in, sir.” - -The young man stalked into the inner room, while Seihachi, feeling like -a fish out of water, followed him. Bunzayemon ushered the guests into -one of the finest rooms in his house. Seihachi was troubled at heart, -for the man’s clothes were muddy, and said: “Sir, I fear we shall soil -your floor.” - -Without even listening to Seihachi’s words, or showing that he had heard -them, the host courteously said: “I am Bunzayemon of the Kinokuniya; and -what is your name?” - -“My name is Chobei,” answered the youth somewhat haughtily. - -“I’m glad to make your acquaintance.” - -Seihachi kept making signs to Chobei as to his behavior, but the latter -did not take the least notice. - -Seihachi in his distress said to Bunzayemon: “Please, sir, I beg your -pardon for his unmannerly behavior. I think he must be a little out of -his mind. I’m sorry to have brought such a fellow.” - -Meanwhile Bunzayemon and Chobei sat with the _tabakobon_[29] between -them and looked into each other’s face. For a while neither of them -spoke, while Seihachi, whose trouble of mind was increased by this state -of affairs, tried to extricate himself from this uncomfortable position -and said: - -Footnote 29: - - A tobacco-tray. - -“Chobei San, we had better take our leave now.” Then, turning to the -host, “Sir, you won’t engage him after all, will you, sir?” - -At this Bunzayemon, speaking somewhat loudly, said: “Oh, yes, I’ll -engage you, Chobei San, and take you on as one of my men, if that is -your wish.” - -“Then do you really engage me?” And as he spoke Chobei quickly moved -backward a little and bowed to the floor, in the act of showing respect -and thanks to his superior. - -Bunzayemon then put on a lordly air and asked him: “Chobei, are you -skilled in working the abacus?”[30] - -Footnote 30: - - The Chinese reckoning-board, consisting of beads or balls strung on - wires or rods set in a frame. - -“I don’t know much about it,” he replied, as he placed both his hands on -the matting in the attitude of respect, “because I was bred in a warrior -family.” - -“If that is so you’ll be of no use in the shop,” said the master, -scornfully. “What can you do, then?” - -To which Chobei answered, “I know how to turn a lot of money, sir.” - -“That’s interesting!” replied the master. - -The carpenter, stricken dumb with astonishment while the negotiation was -going on, said at last, when Chobei had gone, “Sir, have you really -engaged him? I can’t tell you how relieved I am. I’ve been greatly -troubled by the thought that I should be disgraced on account of him. -Please tell me why were you so civil to him at first?” - -“You don’t understand, I see,” said Bunzayemon, laughing. “Before I -engaged him he was my guest, and as he belongs to the warrior class, his -social rank is entitled to consideration. But when I have once engaged -him, then I am his master, and he is my servant, and I must treat him -accordingly.” - -“I see, I see,” said the carpenter. “That is a fine way of looking at -it. Well, then, suppose I go to another man’s house, I may act in a like -haughty manner myself before I get engaged!” - -[Illustration: - - “Bunzayemon then put on a lordly air” -] - -“Certainly; but if you do, you may get disliked instead of engaged”; at -which reply the carpenter was profoundly puzzled. - -Early the next day the new employee begged his master to advance him -some pocket money, which was promptly given him; and having got it, off -he went, no one knew whither, and did not return even for the midday -meal. - -Then the other employees warned their master, saying: “Sir, what is the -use of that sort of man? We don’t know where he has come from. It’s -really unsafe to have that sort of fellow about the house, sir.” - -But the master paid no heed to their warnings. “Not a bit of it! No -matter where his birthplace is, so long as the man is worth having, my -purpose is served. I can see he has plenty of common sense, and I’ll -warrant he’ll be of good service some day. Whenever you plan on a large -scale you must have good assistants: there were four kindly men under -Yoshisune, the great general, and twenty-eight generals under Shingen, -the great lord of the middle ages. Such men we look to for our examples. -Since the days of old every distinguished man has attached to himself -able supporters. Merchants should do the same, and, as certain as the -day dawns, success will come to the business man who employs many good -hands under him. Wait and see. Chobei will do some noteworthy things!” -Thus he instructed his servants in his principles. - -Toward the evening of that day Chobei came back, but with a downcast -countenance. Bunzayemon did not ask where he had been, nor did Chobei -volunteer any information. The next day again, and the next, he asked -for more money, and went out early in the morning, coming back late at -night. He continued in this way for about half a month. The others once -more warned their master, but he still refused to listen to them. - -One day Chobei came to his master and said: “Sir, you import a lot of -timber from Kii Province and try to sell it at once among the people of -this city. But Yedo is a place where fires are so frequent that, if you -buy up a lot of timber at a time when the price is low and keep it, it’s -certain you will make a great profit when some big fire occurs. But to -find a good place for keeping timber,” he went on, “is one of the chief -difficulties, because, as you are well aware, if you keep it near at -hand, in the heart of the city, there’s danger of its being destroyed by -fire, and if you keep it in a river or the sea, either it rots or is -eaten by worms. Now, every day I have been going about looking for a -good place to keep it, and at last I have found one at Kiba in Fukagawa. -Keep timber in the water of that place, and, on account of the quality -of the water, worms will not eat it, but the wood will become shiny and -improve by keeping. Besides, no danger will come to it from fire.” And -he concluded his far-sighted plan with, “For these reasons, I hope you -will soon construct a reservoir for timber in that place.” - -The master clapped his hands in admiration and joy, saying: “Upon my -word, that’s a capital idea! I thought you must have been planning -something, but I never thought you were looking out for a place to keep -timber. I myself had turned the matter over in my mind some time ago, -but on account of my many other duties I hadn’t the time to see to it -myself, and I thank you for undertaking it for me.” And then and there -he intrusted the building of the timber reservoir to Chobei. - -Chobei lost no time in going to Fukagawa and buying ten thousand -_tsubo_, or about forty thousand square yards, of ground near the temple -of Susaki. He built a large reservoir there and removed to it all the -timber imported by his master from Kii Province. Besides, Chobei got his -master’s permission to send out men to the neighboring mountains to buy -up timber where it could be got cheap, and having deposited it all at -Fukagawa, waited contentedly for the time to sell. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - THE GREAT CONFLAGRATION—THE CHARITY “BENTO” - - -IT was on the 18th of January in the third year of the Meireki era (1657 -A.D.) that a bitterly cold north wind, much colder than usual, was -blowing hard. As the wind increased in strength, the foot-passengers, -even in the busy streets, became fewer. From the hour of _ne_, or the -snake, which is the same as ten o’clock A.M. in our modern reckoning, it -had become a regular hurricane, raising clouds of dust and even whirling -pebbles into the air. It seemed as if the heavens and the earth were -creaking and shaking under the rage of it. At this juncture the people -of the city were alarmed by the repeated hasty ringing of several -fire-bells in the direction of the Hongo district, the northern part of -the city. Everybody went up to his fire-lookout and saw the ominous -black smoke rising in the shape of a vast eddying cloud over the part of -the city called Maruyama in Hongo.[31] - -Footnote 31: - - Hongo precinct of the Maruyama Mountain. - -It happened that, a few days before, Bunzayemon, with five or six young -men and a plentiful supply of money, had gone into the mountains of the -neighboring country to buy lumber, leaving the management of his -affairs, in his absence, entirely to Chobei San. - -So when Chobei hurried up to the lookout to ascertain where it was that -the fire had broken out, he glanced up to the heavens and said to -himself: “From the appearance of the sky this wind will not fall for -some time, and in all probability the whole city will be burned down, -because the houses are quite dried up by the continued fine weather we -have been having lately. This is the time to save many people, and it is -also a very good time to make a great deal of profit!” - -Saying this, Chobei made for the shop and issued orders in excited haste -to the men. “Now, you men must form yourselves into two bands: one to go -straight to Fukagawa and get a huge iron pot and a quantity of rice to -be boiled, and make preparations for a charity lunch for the poor; the -other to stay here and put together all the goods in the shop that we -may transfer them without loss of time to Fukagawa.” Though the men -complained against his hasty decision to retreat before the distant -fire, they could not resist the order of the chief man in the shop, so -they reluctantly began to pack up the goods in preparation for -departure, though they thought it would only prove necessary in the end -to brush the dust and soot from off them. Seeing how they were employed, -the neighbors, too, jeered at the hurry they were in; but consternation -soon spread even among these neighbors when the sparks, carried and -fanned by the wind, had started fresh fires—one at Kanda[32] and another -at Nihonbashi, the business part of the city. - -Footnote 32: - - A precinct of Yedo. - -By this time Chobei had already closed the shop and sent off some -valuables and some furniture on carts to Fukagawa, escorted by the men -of the shop, while he had all the timber floated down the river to the -same place, to be put with the other timber which had already been -stored there. Chobei was much delighted to find that all the -preparations for the charity luncheon for the destitute had been carried -out by those who had gone before them. “For our first work is the saving -of the people,” he exclaimed. - -So saying, he engaged a few coolies to assist the men in boiling the -rice and so forth. Having wrapped the boiled rice in broad bamboo -leaves, together with pickled _daikon_,[33] he contrived a luncheon for -many thousands of the poor in no time. - -Footnote 33: - - Large white radishes. - -The stronger the wind grew the farther the fire spread: it devastated -the city with such rapidity that noontide of that day saw even the -districts of Hachobori and Shiba reduced to heaps of smoldering ashes. -Those who were burned out had not had time to put away their furniture, -but only escaped with their lives, and were seeking in vain to find -shelter in the houses of their relatives, who had suffered a like fate -with them and could not assist them. Not knowing where to turn, they -wandered about in terror the whole day, and their misery was such that -they could not even get themselves food. - -While this was the state of things, a band of coolies came among them -with a rectangular bamboo basket with _bento_[34] in it, and one of them -held aloft a paper flag with huge characters on it, which read as -follows: “Kinokuniya Bunzayemon’s Charity Luncheon!” - -Footnote 34: - - Luncheon. - -The coolies distributed this _bento_ among the men and women who were in -distress. Every man and woman, therefore, whether young or old, who was -sore oppressed by hunger, was glad to get hold of this food and was -relieved by it, though it was only for a time. With admirable sagacity -Chobei quickly hired many more coolies and prepared more luncheons, -sending them to every quarter of the city; and so wherever men went they -saw the selfsame flag flying for charity, and the whole city was -surprised, and praised the generosity of this Kinokuniya Bunzayemon. - -In this great fire even those large palaces of the _daimios_,[35] which -stood in the line of the fire and which could in ordinary days call up -many hands to keep the fire off, were not able to escape from the -disaster. Even the nobles of high rank and their retainers knew not -where to find shelter, but stood bewildered in the corners of their big -gardens and waited for help, but in vain. For such personages Chobei -ordered men to prepare _bento_ in nice packages of _sasaori_[36] and to -present it to those nobles and their households in the name of -Kinokuniya Bunzayemon. In consequence, even the servants of these nobles -were grateful to the coolies, and received the presents on behalf of -their masters. - -Footnote 35: - - Feudal lords, or the nobility of Japan. - -Footnote 36: - - Boxes made with bamboo leaves. - -Then, too, Chobei ordered the men of Kinokuniya to put up wooden -inclosures round about the grounds of those nobles to protect them from -robbery or trespass. - -The fire raged through the whole night of the 18th and through the whole -of the next day, so Chobei engaged yet more coolies, and ordered them to -make more charity _bento_ for the relief of the poor. - -There was a certain man named Kamada Matahachi, who was well known for -his physical strength. He had always kept a large portable closet, about -six feet by three, and five feet seven inches in height, in which to -carry his furniture in case of fire. When he thought his house was in -danger, he put all his belongings into this box, placed a sheet of -matting on the top, and carried all these on his back by the means of a -rope specially prepared for the purpose. Carrying a long, heavy stick in -his hand, he walked unconcernedly and steadily among the crowd like an -elephant among dogs. Every one marveled at his size and strength, and -was forced to make room for him to go by. When he came to Fukagawa to -escape from the fire, he saw there a large sign which read: - - Day laborers are wanted for carrying the charity _bento_. Let - all who wish to be engaged call at the timber reservoir of - Kinokuniya Bunzayemon at Fukagawa. Three meals will be given, - and one _kwan mon_[37] will be paid daily for wages. - -Footnote 37: - - A sum about equal to one dollar. - -As he had nowhere to go at the time, he was glad to find some work. He -went to the timber reservoir of Bunzayemon, where he found a bustle and -hurry of men and women, hundreds in number, for the preparation of -luncheon. Some were preparing a quantity of rice in large iron pots, -others were cutting up some pickles, while a third set of men were -wrapping these up in bamboo leaves. - -[Illustration: - - Matahachi in the great fire at Yedo -] - -Many bands of coolies with their paper flags were carrying out the -luncheons in the baskets, while others were coming back with empty ones. - -Matahachi, with that big closet on his back, drew near to the place and -thundered out: “Is this the place where hands are wanted?” The people -turned, and without giving any answer simply looked at one another in -astonishment at his curious appearance. - -Once more he called out: “I’m one Kamada Matahachi; I come to assist -your charity work for the rescue of the people.” - -The voice apparently penetrated even to the inner room, for Chobei came -out and was also surprised by the man’s appearance, but said: “Nothing -can be more fortunate for us than to have the assistance of Mr. -Matahachi, who is noted in the whole of Yedo for his physical strength. -Please help us in our work by distributing the _bento_ in this big, -light-wood chest.” - -With ready acquiescence Matahachi laid aside the heavy baggage on his -back. “This is my furniture,” he said; “please keep it for me.” The -rattling sound of iron and china in the chest made those near by wonder -at the forethought with which he had made provision against the -contingency of a fire, and by which he had been enabled to move away at -once with all his household goods. - -Having safely stowed away his possessions, Matahachi lifted the big -wooden chest, now packed with _bento_, and by means of a rope put it on -his back, and, holding the big pole of hard oak-wood in his right hand -and the paper flag in his left, started forth to the scene of ruin, with -one coolie to assist him. - -As he called out in a loud, deep tone of voice to announce the charity, -the people turned to him in astonishment and soon came flocking around -him. The attendant coolie, standing behind, distributed the _bento_ from -the chest on Matahachi’s back with no inconvenience. So these two -finished their task in less time than it would have taken five or six -men to do it with ordinary methods. On their way back to Kinokuniya, -when they came to a crowded place Matahachi put forth his staff, and by -pushing the crowd to one side made his way through without any -hindrance. - -In one of those crowded places he heard the shrieking cry of a girl. -Forcing his way to the spot, he found a girl of twelve or thirteen years -of age who could not get up on account of being trodden down by the -crowd. Being naturally of a chivalrous character, he soon helped the -girl up and asked whether she had not her parents with her. - -She sobbed, and said: “We all ran away when the fire broke out, and I -became separated from my parents!” - -As he could not leave her there, he said: “That cannot be helped. If you -wander about here you may be trampled to death. I will take you to a -better place if you will get into my empty chest.” So the coolie helped -her in, and they hastened on to Fukagawa. - -At another time he saw an old woman of about threescore years, half -dead, lying by the wayside with her dress partly burned. He felt he -could not leave her behind in such a state, so she, too, was put into -the bamboo basket by the side of the girl. - -Having got back to Fukagawa, he said to Chobei: “I rescued these two on -the way home. Give them the treatment which is suited to their need.” He -handed them over to the acting master, who thanked Matahachi, and thus -addressed the other bands of coolies: “To give away the _bento_ alone -does not cover the whole work of charity; whenever any of you are coming -back with empty chests, you, too, had better bring people home, if such -help is needed as these two received.” And a cordial reception was given -to the old woman as well as to the young girl. - -During such a fire there were naturally many lost children and aged -persons who might have been trodden down under foot. Having understood -Chobei’s instructions, the other bands from that time were sure to bring -back two or three who needed help. To any who were thus brought in -Chobei gave proper treatment, and as he gave the coolies prizes they -worked with great zeal and diligence. Kamada Matahachi went in and out -of the fire ruins many times a day and repeated the same charitable -work. The five or six hundred coolies did their best, also, and, in -consequence, at the reservoir there was a continuous trooping out with -the _bento_ and trooping in of the people; and by the night of the 19th -there were 2800 rescued persons, old and young, all told, who had been -brought to this temporary shelter. - -Even on the night of the 19th there was no sign of the abating of the -fire. The strong northwest wind was still raging, and within two days, -the Hongo, Kanda, Nihonbashi, Kyobashi, and Shiba districts were all -swept by the fire. And now the fire was burning down Takanawa with such -terrific force that the very sea-line seemed to recede before it. But -that night the wind suddenly changed to the south-east, and the fire -turned backward and licked up all the houses on both sides of the great -river Sumida and those that had survived at first in Asakusa and round -about Yushima. Then at last it was got under control near to Senju about -noonday on the 20th. And since the morning of the 18th, within three -days and two nights, the whole city of Yedo had been reduced to ashes -and as many as 108,000 people were lost. It was one of the most terrible -of fires. - -Indeed, such a disastrous fire had never before and has never since -occurred in Yedo, and even now it is sadly referred to by the people as -the “Furisode-Kwaji”—the long-sleeved fire—quite as often as it is -called the great fire of Hongo-Maruyama. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER X - - AMBITION SATISFIED—THE MERCHANT PRINCE - - -KINOKUNIYA BUNZAYEMON, who unknowingly had left such a big fire behind -him and sought the mountainous districts of the neighboring provinces as -his field of action, went over to Sagami Province the same day, and -negotiated with the chief owners of forests there and made a contract -with them, paying them guaranty money in advance. The next day he -crossed over to Awa Province and visited in turn the owners of mountain -forests in Kazusa, Shimo-osa, and Musashi, and struck bargains with them -to buy all their salable timber. Four or five days only were occupied in -these rapid negotiations, at the end of which time, as the rumor of the -big fire of Yedo had got abroad to these neighboring provinces, Kibun -hastened on his way back to Yedo. As he was passing amidst the -smoldering ruins on the way to his depot at Fukagawa, he continually -heard the people talking of himself. Every time he stopped and listened. -“Well, Genbei San, Kinokuniva Bunzayemon is a fine fellow, isn’t he? One -would think he had foreseen the fire and prepared that enormous amount -of _bento_ beforehand; otherwise he could not possibly have given it out -to the people so readily. I and others had nowhere to find food, so we -supported ourselves for three days on that _bento_.” - -“Is that so, Hachibei San? I also received it every day. For three days, -wherever one went among the ruins one was met with his charity. It’s -said that within three days no less than two thousand _koku_[38] of rice -were given away. Had it not been for that charity nearly the whole -population of the city would have famished. Moreover, Genbei San, the -charity was extended even to the mansions of many _daimios_, and the -nobles and their families ate of his _bento_.” - -Footnote 38: - - Ten thousand bushels. - -“To be sure. Even the nobles with their heaps of gold and all their -power couldn’t buy a single grain in the general consternation! Really -that Kibun, whoever he may be, is a sagacious fellow!” Thus the men -talked who had received his alms. - -While Bunzayemon, who listened to this current talk, was inwardly -rejoicing that Chobei had managed his affairs so admirably, he passed -two women who were talking. - -“Oh, Haru San, when I lost sight of my child in the crowd,” one of them -was saying, “I became almost mad in my search for her; but as I could -not find her in the hurry and bustle, I gave her up for being trodden to -death or else for being suffocated in the heat. In my grief I lost all -care for my own life. But then I heard the people say that some -thousands of strayed children had been taken to Kibun’s country place at -Fukagawa. I ran there at once, and lo! I found my little girl there -among the children. My joy, of course, knew no bounds. Let people say -what they wish, Kibun must be a merciful man; in such a fire as this -naturally there are a lot of strayed children, and therefore he sent out -his men to every quarter of the city, ordering them to bring such to his -house. In three days a thousand or more people were rescued, they say. -Henceforth I will always have a niche for Kibun Sama in my heart.” - -“I will, too. Your case was not so bad as mine. For my part, when I lost -sight of my mother, no words could express my anxiety. If she had been -in sound health, I would have felt a little easier, but she has been -laid up since last winter on account of her great age. At first we -thought we were safe from the conflagration, as the fire had passed by -us toward Takanawa; but then by the change of wind the sparks started -the fire afresh at the very next door to our own. The men belonging to -the house had gone to Takanawa to help a relative of ours there, and I -thought it would be a shame to me if by my indecision the fire should -cause the death of my mother; so, holding mother’s hand, I dragged her -from the house. - -“After two or three _chos’_[39] run, mother was out of breath and -consequently couldn’t walk a step farther. I put her on my back and ran -on, but we were both soon suffocated by the smoke, and then I tumbled -down. I couldn’t get up for some time because other people who were -running to escape from the flames trod on me. - -Footnote 39: - - One _cho_ equals about one hundred and twenty yards. - -“In another minute the sparks set fire to my dress and my whole body was -nearly burned. However, I braced myself up and got on my feet, being -very anxious about my mother. I looked round, and she was not there. I -knew she couldn’t possibly have run away, owing to her helplessness; so -I looked around me, being sure she must be either in a ditch or -stupefied by the smoke. The fire, however, was too quick for me. I -couldn’t stay to make further search, so I ran away. I have been weeping -since at the thought of mother’s death, when yesterday I heard a report -that mother was safe at Fukagawa. I flew to the place and met her. When -I asked how she had got there she told me that she had been rescued by -the coolies of a certain Kibun, and after being brought there had -received the most kind treatment. Henceforth I’ll not sleep with my feet -toward Fukagawa.” - -Hearing this, Bunzayemon was further struck by the excellent management -of Chobei. On his way home through the desolation and ruin he also -passed by many of the _daimios’_ palace-grounds, when he saw his own -trade-mark on all the boardings put up as temporary inclosures. - -As he was wondering at this new proof of Chobei’s energy and wisdom, two -_samurai_, or retainers, came by talking. - -“Look, my friend! The inclosure of this mansion, too, seems to have been -put up by Kibun’s people. The man is wonderfully ready for everything! -And no doubt the fact that he has put up the temporary inclosure means -that the rebuilding will be put into his hands, and no better man could -probably be found.” - -“You are right. If we employ him he’s certain to lose no time about it.” - -Bunzayemon, who overheard this conversation, clapped his hands in -admiration, and, turning to his attendants, said: “How now, my fellows! -You didn’t think much of Chobei at first, did you? Well, what do you -think of him now?” - -The attendants looked at one another and said: “Really, he is very -clever—even more clever than you, sir! Yes, unless a man employs some -men cleverer than himself he can never become great!” - -With unbounded joy Bunzayemon soon arrived at his depot at Fukagawa. No -sooner did he catch sight of Chobei than he held out his hand to him, -saying: “Ah! I have no words in which to express my thanks to you. I -have been hearing from the chance talk of the people on my way home of -all you have been doing in my absence, and have been much struck by your -sagacity. Indeed, I have never felt so much joy as I experience to-day!” - -Bunzayemon, who was not accustomed to show joy or sorrow in his face, -could not suppress his emotion on that day. - -Almost all the houses in the city of Yedo were destroyed by the fire. -Warriors and merchants had to build their abodes afresh, and because all -the timber in the city was reduced to ashes, the price at once went up -tenfold. Now Kibun alone, at this juncture, had already a great stock of -timber on hand at his depot at Fukagawa, and he had fresh supplies -constantly being sent in from the mountains in the near-by country, -being the timber he had lately bought. The profit which he gained by -selling all this material was something enormous. - -[Illustration: - - “‘I have no words in which to express my thanks to you’” -] - -Moreover, on account of his alms and the inclosures he had put up for -various great feudal lords, they too became his customers and asked him -to rebuild their mansions. By these orders he again made a great profit. -He ascribed this good fortune entirely to Chobei, to whom he gave a -great sum of money as a token of appreciation of his services. Besides, -he handsomely rewarded the other men and boys in his employ. - -He also sent for that chief carpenter, Seihachi. - -“Well, Seihachi, this is the prize which I give you.” - -Thus saying, he put a box which contained one thousand _rio_ in front of -him. - -The other was frightened out of his wits. - -“Oh! do you say there’s a gift of a thousand _rio_ for me in this -packet? Isn’t it empty?” - -“No, it’s not empty. Lift it and see.” - -Whereupon Seihachi tried to lift it and said: “Truly, it’s too heavy; I -can’t lift it! Isn’t this a dream?” said he, as he pinched his knee. - -Bunzayemon laughed. “It is not a dream. It’s a reward to you, sure and -certain, and you had better take it home with you.” - -“Really, I thank you, sir. In the time of the fire I carried charity -_bento_ only three times, for I was working at other things; therefore -I’m not worthy of so great a reward!” - -“It isn’t a reward for that.” - -“Then for the inclosure which I did for Sendai Sama, the _daimio_; for -that work my assistants came late, so I couldn’t finish it till late in -the evening. The work ought to have been finished much earlier.” - -“It isn’t for that.” - -“Not for that, either? For what is it, then, sir?” - -Bunzayemon pointed to Chobei, who was then in the shop, and said: “You -brought me that excellent article, there. It’s for that.” - -The carpenter misunderstood him and said: “Is that so? I see, for that -article. That’s an article rarely found, and I thought it would be a -great loss if it was burnt, so before other things I sent it down on a -raft from Hachobori to Fukagawa. Then on the way it collided with a ship -and the raft was nearly broken to pieces.” - -“What are you talking about?” - -“You mean that hinoki plank, do you not, of eight inches both in breadth -and thickness?” - -“No; you don’t understand me, yet. It is your prize for bringing Chobei -to me.” - -“You mean Chobei San. Ah, I see, I see! I did not understand you. I -wondered why you gave me such a handsome reward. But Chobei San has -certainly proved to be an excellent man. I thought he was a hopeless -fellow. Shall I bring you another Chobei San? I have a lot more.” - -“What sort of Chobei is he?” - -“The next idlest fellow who depends on me for support.” - -Bunzayemon laughed, saying, “No, thank you; I don’t want another Chobei -of that kind.” - -In this wise, Bunzayemon, by the help of Chobei, undertook various -important schemes and accumulated great wealth. Thus in time his fame -had sounded through the whole of Japan and he had built a big -establishment at Honhachobori,—a street in Tokio, near the heart of the -city,—which covered one _cho_ square. Always strenuously pushing forward -his business, he at last, as had been his ambition, became the leading -merchant in the whole of Japan. As the old verse says: - - - The heavy gourd from slender stem takes birth, - From strenuous will spring deeds of weighty worth. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - ● Transcriber’s Notes: - ○ Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected. - ○ Typographical errors were silently corrected. - ○ Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only - when a predominant form was found in this book. - ○ Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_) - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KIBUN DAIZIN *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<table style='min-width:0; padding:0; margin-left:0; border-collapse:collapse'> - <tr><td>Title:</td><td>Kibun Daizin</td></tr> - <tr><td></td><td>From Shark-Boy to Merchant Prince</td></tr> -</table> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Gensai Murai</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Translator: Masao Yoshida</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: George Varian</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: May 14, 2021 [eBook #65320]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Mary Glenn Krause, Charlene Taylor, Barry Abrahamsen, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KIBUN DAIZIN ***</div> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div> - <h1 class='c001'>KIBUN DAIZIN</h1> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div id='i004' class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/i004.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“As the two boys were steadily gazing, up came the shark”</p> -</div> -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='c004'>KIBUN DAIZIN</span></div> - <div class='c000'>OR</div> - <div class='c000'><em class='gesperrt'><span class='c005'>FROM SHARK-BOY TO</span></em></div> - <div><em class='gesperrt'><span class='c005'>MERCHANT PRINCE</span></em></div> - <div class='c000'>BY</div> - <div class='c000'><span class='c006'>GENSAI MURAI</span></div> - <div class='c000'>TRANSLATED BY MASAO YOSHIDA</div> - <div class='c007'>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS</div> - <div>BY GEORGE VARIAN</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id003'> -<img src='images/publogo.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>NEW YORK</div> - <div><span class="blackletter"><span class='xlarge'>The Century Co.</span></span></div> - <div>1904</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>Copyright, 1904, by</div> - <div><span class='sc'>The Century Co.</span></div> - <div>────</div> - <div><i>Published October, 1904.</i></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sans'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='c008'><span class='sc'>The DeVinne Press.</span></span></div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_vii'>vii</span> - <h2 class='c009'>PUBLISHERS’ NOTE</h2> -</div> -<p class='c010'><span class='sc'>The Century Co.</span> counts itself fortunate -in being able to present to young readers an -admirable story from the Japanese, written by -one of Japan’s most popular novelists and -filled with the spirit of that great Oriental -nation. The author of this story, Gensai Murai, -was once a student of the Waseda School, -founded by Count Okuma, leader of the Progressive -Party in Japan. There he studied -English Literature as well as Japanese, and -after completing his course of study he was -employed by one of the well-known Tokio -daily papers, called the “Hochi,” to write stories -for it. His writings soon arrested the attention -of the reading circles in Japan. Several of his -novels went through as many as ten editions -within two years.</p> -<p class='c011'>This story of Kibun Daizin is founded upon -the life of Bunzayemon Kinokuniya, a Japanese -merchant of the eighteenth century, whose -<span class='pageno' id='Page_viii'>viii</span>pluck, wisdom, and enterprising spirit made him -one of the most prosperous and respected men -of his time. He is much admired by his countrymen, -and is talked of familiarly, even to this -day, by the Japanese, under the nickname of -“Kibun Daizin.” “Ki” and “Bun” stand for -the initials of his personal and family names, -while “Daizin” means “the wealthiest man.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The shrewdness and dauntless ambition of -the young hero of this story will commend him -to the admiration of American boys, and in -Kibun Daizin, as here pictured, they will find -a true representative of the wonderful nation -which, within thirty years, has entirely changed -the modes of life that it had followed for more -than twenty centuries, and has suddenly fallen -into line with the most civilized countries of the -world.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The story was translated especially for <span class='sc'>St. -Nicholas</span>, and many quaint terms and expressions -have been purposely retained, although -the pronunciation and meaning of the Japanese -words are given wherever necessary.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_ix'>ix</span> - <h2 class='c009'>CONTENTS</h2> -</div> -<table class='table0' summary=''> -<colgroup> -<col width='8%' /> -<col width='80%' /> -<col width='10%' /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='small'>CHAPTER</span></td> - <td class='c013'> </td> - <td class='c014'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='fss'>I</span></td> - <td class='c013'><span class='sc'>An Ambitious Boy</span></td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#Page_3'>3</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='fss'>II</span></td> - <td class='c013'><span class='sc'>Bunkichi Plans to Kill the Shark</span></td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#Page_23'>23</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='fss'>III</span></td> - <td class='c013'><span class='sc'>A Boat Capsized—A Hairbreadth Escape</span></td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#Page_37'>37</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='fss'>IV</span></td> - <td class='c013'><span class='sc'>The Tables Turned</span></td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#Page_54'>54</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='fss'>V</span></td> - <td class='c013'><span class='sc'>The Battle of Stone Missiles—The Monkeys’ Panic</span></td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#Page_75'>75</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='fss'>VI</span></td> - <td class='c013'><span class='sc'>The Great Hazard—A Perilous Voyage</span></td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#Page_91'>91</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='fss'>VII</span></td> - <td class='c013'><span class='sc'>The Sea-Giant Appears</span></td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#Page_103'>103</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='fss'>VIII</span></td> - <td class='c013'><span class='sc'>An Eccentric Fellow</span></td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#Page_118'>118</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='fss'>IX</span></td> - <td class='c013'><span class='sc'>The Great Conflagration—The Charity “Bento”</span></td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#Page_135'>135</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c012'><span class='fss'>X</span></td> - <td class='c013'><span class='sc'>Ambition Satisfied—The Merchant Prince</span></td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#Page_151'>151</a></td> - </tr> -</table> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_xi'>xi</span> - <h2 class='c009'>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> -</div> -<table class='table0' summary=''> -<colgroup> -<col width='89%' /> -<col width='10%' /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c013'> </td> - <td class='c014'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>As the two boys were steadily gazing, up came the shark</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i004'><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>“If you please, sir, are you the head of the Daikokuya?”</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i019'>5</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>“Why, it’s just like a real dragon-fly!” she cried, with delight</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i031'>17</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>The lad was in the air, suspended by the rope</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i063'>49</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>Putting a rope round the body of the shark</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i071'>57</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>As though they were stricken by thunder at the boy’s words, down they tumbled on the ground</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i083'>69</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>Giving him a helping hand, Bunkichi led the man along to the next village</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i091'>77</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>Hundreds of monkeys had drawn a circle around three men, whom they were pelting with a shower of stones</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i097'>83</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>He drew his sword and ran toward the monster</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i125'>111</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>Bunzayemon then put on a lordly air</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i143'>129</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>Matahachi in the great fire at Yedo</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i157'>143</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c013'>“I have no words in which to express my thanks to you”</td> - <td class='c014'><a href='#i173'>159</a></td> - </tr> -</table> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>KIBUN DAIZIN</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c007'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span><span class='c015'>KIBUN DAIZIN</span></div> - <div class='c000'>OR</div> - <div class='c000'><span class='xlarge'>FROM SHARK-BOY TO MERCHANT PRINCE</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c009'>CHAPTER I<br /> <br /><span class='c016'>AN AMBITIOUS BOY</span></h2> -</div> -<div class='c017'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di-i.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -“IF you please, sir,—”</p> - -<p class='c011'>And, attracted by a voice -behind him, a well-dressed -gentleman turned round and -saw a boy of about thirteen or fourteen -hurrying toward him,—“if you please, -sir, are you the head of the Daikokuya<a id='r1' /><a href='#f1' class='c018'><sup>[1]</sup></a>?”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f1'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. </span>Pronounced Dy-ko-koo’ya, meaning “dry-goods house.”</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes, I am,” answered the gentleman, -eying the boy with surprise. “What can -I do for you?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I come from Kada-no-Ura,” said the -boy, making a polite bow, “and I wish to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>ask you a great favor. Will you please -take me into your shop as an apprentice?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Your request is rather a strange one,” -said the gentleman, smiling. “Pray tell -me why it is that you wish to come to me.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The boy raised his head. “Oh, sir, -yours is the chief business house in Kumano, -and I would be so glad if I might -learn under you.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“You wish to become a business man, -do you?” said the gentleman, with a -friendly nod; upon which the boy drew -himself up and exclaimed, “Yes; I mean, -if I can, to become the leading merchant -in Japan!”</p> - -<div id='i019' class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span> -<img src='images/i019.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“‘If you please, sir, are you the head of the Daikokuya?’”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The master of the Daikokuya instinctively -studied the boy’s face. There was a -certain nobleness and intelligence about it; -he had well-cut features, a firmness about -the lips, and quick-glancing eyes, and, -although his clothing showed poverty, his -bearing was quiet and his speech refined. -These things confirmed the gentleman in -the opinion that the boy was not the son -of any common man; and having, as the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>employer of many hands, a quick eye to -read character, he said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Very good, my boy! So you mean -to become the leading merchant in Japan? -A fine notion, to be sure. However, before -I engage a boy, you know, I must -have somebody to recommend him, and he -must give me references. Have you any -relatives in this place?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No, sir; I know no one,” answered the -boy.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Why, where have you been until -now?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I have only just come from my country. -The fact is, I heard your name, sir, -some time ago, and being very anxious to -enter your service, I left my country all by -myself to come to Kumano. But I have -not a single acquaintance here, nor anybody -to whom I can turn. My only object -was to come straight to you; and I was -asking a man on the road if he could direct -me to your house, when the man pointed -to you and said, ‘Why, that gentleman -just ahead of us is the master of the Daikokuya.’ -<span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>And that is how it comes that -I ran up to you all of a sudden in this rude -way.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>There was a charm in the free utterance -with which the boy told his story, and, having -listened to it, the gentleman said: “I -understand. It is all right. As you have -no friends here, I will do without a recommendation, -and you shall come just as you -are”; and, saying this, he brought the lad -back with him to his house.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The Daikokuya, you must know, was -the chief clothing establishment, or “dry-goods -house,” in Kumano, and did a larger -business than any other in the town. On -arriving there, the master took the boy -with him into an inner room, and, telling -his wife what had taken place, called the -boy to his side. “Tell me, my boy, what -is your name?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“My name is Bunkichi.”<a id='r2' /><a href='#f2' class='c018'><sup>[2]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f2'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. </span>Pronounced Boon-kee’chee.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“Are your parents living?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>At this question the boy hung his head -sorrowfully. “I have neither father nor -<span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>mother,” he answered, with a choking -voice and eyes filled with tears.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Filled with pity, the others asked him -how long he had been left alone in the -world.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I lost my mother,” he said, “more -than three years ago, and my father only -quite recently.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“And what was your family? Were -you farmers or tradesmen?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Neither one nor the other. My father -formerly served under the Lord of Wakayama, -and received an allowance of eight -hundred <i>koku</i><a id='r3' /><a href='#f3' class='c018'><sup>[3]</sup></a> of rice. His name was -Igarashi Bunzayemon;<a id='r4' /><a href='#f4' class='c018'><sup>[4]</sup></a> but, losing his -position, he came to Kada-no-Ura, where -we had to live in a very poor way. My -father, however, would never allow me to -forget that the ancestor of our house was -Igarashi Kobunji,<a id='r5' /><a href='#f5' class='c018'><sup>[5]</sup></a> who served in old days -at Kamakura, and gained a name for himself -as a brave warrior. ‘And when you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>become a man,’ my father used to say, -‘you must win your way to fame, and so -uphold the honor of the family; but, unlike -the past, our lot to-day is cast in peaceful -times when there is little chance of winning -distinction in arms; but become, if -you can, the leading merchant in Japan, -and you will bring honor to our house.’ -Such was my father’s counsel to me, and -not long since he was taken with a severe -illness and died. And now, if you please, -I wish to learn the ways of business, that -I may become a merchant, and I have journeyed -to Kumano to throw myself on your -kindness.”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f3'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r3'>3</a>. </span>One <i>koku</i> equals about five bushels.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f4'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r4'>4</a>. </span>Pronounced Ee-gar-ash’ee Boon-zy’e-mon.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f5'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r5'>5</a>. </span>Pronounced Ee-gar-ash’ee Ko-boon’jee.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The gentleman listened to the boy’s -clear account of himself and expressed his -admiration. “Ah! I was right, I see, -when I thought you were not the son of -an ordinary man. Your ambition to become -the chief merchant in Japan is a -high one, certainly; but the proverb says, -‘Ants aspire to the skies,’ and anything -is possible to a man who puts his whole -heart into his work. You are still quite -<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>young, I should say, though you have -come all the way from Kada-no-Ura by -yourself, and though you talk of your affairs -in a manner that would reflect credit -on a grown-up man. Come, tell me, how -old are you?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I am fourteen,” he answered.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“What, not more than that?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>And the master’s wife, who was by his -side, could not repress her surprise, either.</p> - -<p class='c011'>At this point the <i>shoji</i>, or paper sliding -doors, opened, and in ran a pretty little -girl of about eleven. Her hair was drawn -up into a little butterfly device on the top -of her head, which shook to and fro as she -ran up to her mother. Stretching out a -small maple-leaf hand, with a winsome -look, she said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Mother, please give me a cake.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Why, my dear, where are your manners? -What will our young friend here -think of you?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>At this the child looked around, and, for -the first time becoming aware of the boy’s -presence, turned shy and sat down. Looking -<span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>gently in her face, her mother then -asked her what she had been doing. -Afraid of the stranger, she whispered in -her mother’s ear: “I have been playing -<i>oni</i><a id='r6' /><a href='#f6' class='c018'><sup>[6]</sup></a> with Sadakichi in the garden. But -I don’t like Sadakichi. When he was the -<i>oni</i> he just caught me at once.”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f6'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r6'>6</a>. </span>A play similar to tag or prisoner’s base.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“But that often happens in playing -<i>oni</i>,” said the mother, with a smile.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes, but he does it too much; he has -no right to catch people in the way he does, -and I don’t wish to play with him any -more.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Well, if that is so, how would you like -to play with Bunkichi here instead?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Accepting it as one of the duties that -might fall to him, to act as the child’s companion -and caretaker, Bunkichi, rather -pleased than otherwise, offered to go out -and try to amuse her. The little girl -looked into her mother’s face, and then at -Bunkichi. “Mama, how long has he been -here?” she asked in a low voice.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“He only came to-day, but he’s a fine -<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>boy, and I hope you’ll be a good little girl -and show him the garden.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>But the child’s thoughts seemed suddenly -to take a new turn, and, sidling up -to her mother, she begged to be given a -cake. The mother opened the little drawer -of the <i>hibachi</i>,<a id='r7' /><a href='#f7' class='c018'><sup>[7]</sup></a> and, taking out two or -three sugar-plums, put them into her hand. -The child then, with barely a glance at -Bunkichi, ran through the <i>shoji</i> out of -doors.</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f7'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r7'>7</a>. </span>Pronounced he-bah’chee. A wooden fire-box where a -charcoal fire is kept for warming the hands.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“Take care and don’t stumble,” her -mother called out. “Do you mind just seeing -after her?” she said to Bunkichi, who -at once got up and went out on the veranda.</p> - -<p class='c011'>No sooner was Chocho Wage,<a id='r8' /><a href='#f8' class='c018'><sup>[8]</sup></a> or -“Butterfly Curls” (so named from the -way in which her hair was dressed), outside -in the garden than she began quarreling -with the boy from the shop. “No, -Sadakichi; I’m not going to play with you. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>Mama says that the other boy who has -just come is a fine boy, and I’m going to -play with him.”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f8'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r8'>8</a>. </span>Pronounced Cho’cho Wah’gay.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“What! another boy has come, has -he?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes; there he is. Go and fetch him.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Sadakichi called to Bunkichi, “You will -find some <i>geta</i><a id='r9' /><a href='#f9' class='c018'><sup>[9]</sup></a> there, if you will come -out.”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f9'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r9'>9</a>. </span>Pronounced gay’tah. Foot-wear or wooden clogs.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>So Bunkichi came out to the garden.</p> - -<p class='c011'>It was not a very large one, but it was -a pretty spot, for beyond it sparkled the -bay that lay at the back of Kumano. Bunkichi -had soon joined the two others, and -Sadakichi, turning to the little child, said, -“Well, shall we three play at <i>oni</i>?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No,” she answered; “you are always -catching me, and I don’t care to play.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I won’t catch you, then, Chocho, if you -don’t like it.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“All the same, I’d rather not.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>A thought struck Bunkichi, and, addressing -himself to the child, he said: -“Would you like me to make you something? -<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>I would if I only had a knife and -some bamboo.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The child was at once interested, and -told Sadakichi to go and get what was -wanted. So Sadakichi strolled off and -brought a knife and some bamboo chips. -“Now, then, what are you going to -make?” said he.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“A nice bamboo dragon-fly,” Bunkichi -answered; and, taking the knife, he split a -bit of the bamboo, shaved it fine and -smooth, and fixed a little peg in the middle -of it.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Sadakichi, quickly guessing what it was, -said: “Ah, it’s a dragon-fly. I know! I -once went with the <i>banto</i><a id='r10' /><a href='#f10' class='c018'><sup>[10]</sup></a> to Kada-no-Ura, -and every one there was flying those -dragon-flies, and, now I think of it, the -boy who was selling them looked just like -you.”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f10'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r10'>10</a>. </span>Clerk.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Not a bit disconcerted, Bunkichi replied: -“Yes, you are quite right. I was -the boy who made them and was selling -them.”</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>“Bah! Mr. Dragon-fly-seller!” blustered -out Sadakichi, with a face of disgust.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Don’t speak like that,” said the little -girl, turning sharply upon him, and then -to Bunkichi: “What made you sell -them?” she asked, speaking out to him for -the first time.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“My father was ill in bed,” he answered, -continuing to scrape the bamboo, -“and, as our family was poor, I managed -to buy him rice and medicine by selling -these dragon-flies.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Child as she was, this touching story of -filial piety made her respect Bunkichi all -the more.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Oh, wasn’t that good of him!” she -said, turning to Sadakichi. “Do you -think you could have done it?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I—yes; only there would have been -no need for me to sell dragon-flies. I -should have sold the wearing-things in -our shop,” he answered, arrogantly.</p> - -<div id='i031' class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/i031.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“‘Why, it’s just like a real dragon-fly!’ she cried, with delight”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi had now finished making the -dragon-fly, and, holding it between his -hands, he spun it round, and up it went into -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>the air with a whirring sound, and lighted -on the ground again some five or six paces -away.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Why, it’s just like a real dragon-fly!” -cried the child, with delight. “Do let me -have it!” And, taking it in her hands, she -tried to set it flying, but she could only -make it go up a little way.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Then Sadakichi, wishing to try his -hand, pushed forward. “Let me have it,” -he said, “and I’ll show you how well I -can do it”; and, seizing hold of it, with the -force of both hands he sent it flying high -into the air. “There, now—see how it -goes!” and, while the little girl was watching -it with delight, the dragon-fly flew -over the wall fence and dropped into the -water beyond.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The little child ran after it, followed by -Sadakichi and Bunkichi. There was a little -gate in the garden, opening on a jetty. -Through this they passed and stood together -on the plank, watching the dragon-fly -tossing about on the water.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Oh, I wish we could get it,” said the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>little girl, looking at it wistfully; “if it -would only come just in front of us!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Take care,” said Sadakichi, holding -her back, while the dragon-fly, bobbing up -and down among the ripples, gradually -drifted farther off.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Now Bunkichi, seeing there was a small -boat lying alongside the jetty, had said to -Sadakichi, “Let me row out and get it,” -and was drawing the boat toward him, -when he was abruptly stopped by Sadakichi. -“No, no; you mustn’t think of putting -out from the shore. If you do, you -are certain to be eaten up by the <i>wanizame</i>.”<a id='r11' /><a href='#f11' class='c018'><sup>[11]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f11'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r11'>11</a>. </span>Pronounced wah-ne-zah’may, meaning a huge shark.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes, it’s quite true,” chimed in the -little girl. “There’s a horrid <i>wanizame</i> -that prevents any one going on the sea. -Only yesterday it captured somebody.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes—a young man from the brewery,” -said Sadakichi. “He had some barrels -in his boat, and he had gone only two -or three hundred yards when the shark -<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>came up and overturned his boat and -seized him.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“It doesn’t matter about the dragon-fly; -I don’t want it; let us go back to the -house.” And the little child, frightened in -good earnest, took hold of Bunkichi’s arm.</p> - -<p class='c011'>It was the first time Bunkichi had heard -about the <i>wanizame</i>. “Is it really true, -miss, that there is a <i>wanizame</i> in the -bay?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes; I can tell you it’s very serious. -I don’t know how many people it has eaten -in the last month.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Really! But how big is it?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I don’t know what you would call -big,” broke in Sadakichi. “But it’s about -as big as this house. If it sees a small -boat, it overtakes it in no time and topples -it over, and if it is a big boat it gets -in the way and stops it so that it can’t -move, and so the fishermen can’t go out, -and no cargo can come into the port. I -suppose it must be want of food that has -brought it into this harbor; but, however -<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>that may be, it thinks nothing of upsetting -the small craft, so that for a month no one -has ventured out at all. Well, there was -the brewer’s man. Yesterday he thought -it would be safe to go just a short distance, -but he very soon got swallowed up. -And what is the consequence? Why, the -fishing is stopped, and there’s no trade, -and the place is going to ruin. The fishermen -and hunters have tried over and over -again to kill it with spikes and guns and -with all kinds of things. But what is the -use? Their weapons only snap in two or -glance off its back, and they only get killed -themselves. So they have given up trying.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi listened to every word, and -then suddenly went into the house and -stood before the master.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span> - <h2 class='c009'>CHAPTER II<br /> <br /><span class='c016'>BUNKICHI PLANS TO KILL THE SHARK</span></h2> -</div> -<div class='c017'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di-t.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -THE master and his wife were -engaged in conversation, but -on seeing Bunkichi the merchant -said, “Well, have you -been to see the garden?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Thank you, I have enjoyed it very -much,” answered Bunkichi, politely.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Why, bless me, he has all the manners -of a little <i>samurai</i><a id='r12' /><a href='#f12' class='c018'><sup>[12]</sup></a>!” exclaimed the master -to his wife. “There is no comparison -between him and the other boys. But -dancing attendance on a little girl is not -the sort of employment for a lad who has -the ambition to become the leading merchant -in Japan. No, no; he wants to get -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>into the shop as soon as he can and learn -the ways of business—eh, my boy?”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f12'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r12'>12</a>. </span>Pronounced sahm’oo-rye. The <i>samurai</i> were the military -class of Japan, corresponding to the knights of the middle -ages in European countries.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The master exactly interpreted Bunkichi’s -wishes, and Bunkichi felt very grateful -to him, but he only answered: “I shall -esteem it a great favor to be allowed to -serve you in any way. But, master, with -your leave, I would ask you: Is it true, -as I hear, that there is a <i>wanizame</i> lately -come into this bay, and that people are -suffering a lot of harm from it?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Ah, me! Yes, it’s a sore trouble, that -<i>wanizame</i>; our fishermen are doing nothing, -our boat traffic is stopped, and if -things go on in this way the place will be -ruined. All sorts of attempts have been -made to kill it, but, alas! all to no purpose.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Then respectfully, in a kneeling posture, -approaching nearer, Bunkichi thus addressed -his master: “Master, in the request -I am now going to make of you, I -fear you will put me down as a child with -a vain, childish notion of doing great -things; none the less, I am bold to ask you, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>in all seriousness, will you give me leave -to attempt the destruction of this <i>wanizame</i>?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master exclaimed in astonishment: -“What! You think that you are going -to kill the <i>wanizame</i>? It would be the -greatest thing in the world if you could, -but already every means has been tried. -Whaling-men have tried to kill it with -their harpoons, the hunters of wild game -on the mountains have tried to shoot it -with their guns; but the <i>wanizame</i> has -defeated all their schemes, and, to say -nothing of the money it has cost, several -men have lost their lives in their attempts -to kill it, and our citizens have given it -up as hopeless. Son of a <i>samurai</i> though -you may be, this is no task for a boy of -thirteen or fourteen. No; you may have -seen in the seas around Kada-no-Ura -sharks of four or five feet in length, but -just go out to the hill above the town and -look over the bay until you catch sight of -our monster. The very sight of it is -enough to terrify most people.”</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>“You mistake me, master,” said Bunkichi, -sitting up straight. “I have no -thought of trying my strength against the -<i>wanizame</i>. But I have a trick in my mind -I should like to play, if you would allow -me.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Oh, it’s a trick, is it? And what is -the trick our crafty youngster is going to -propose for killing the <i>wanizame</i>, I should -like to know?” said the master, smiling.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“The plan I have is simply this: First, -to make a straw figure and to fill up the -inside with poison. Then I shall dress it -in a man’s clothes and take it out into -the bay, and, when we see the shark coming, -throw it out to him to eat. Sharks -are senseless creatures and ready to eat -anything, so he is sure to swallow the -straw man, and if he does the poison will -at once take effect and kill him. That’s -my plan; what do you think of it?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes; I think your plan of making a -straw man is not at all a bad one, and I -have little doubt, as you say, that the shark -would swallow it. In that case it would -<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>certainly die and we should be free at -last from our great calamity. But wait -a minute; I am afraid, when the doll is -made, there is nobody who will venture to -take it out to the sea. People have had so -many bitter lessons from trying to kill this -shark that, however much money you offer, -no one, I fear, will agree to take it -out into the bay.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi without any hesitation replied: -“I will undertake the task of taking -the doll out for the shark to swallow. -As I grew up by the seaside at Kada-no-Ura, -I can row a boat well and can swim -better than most people. I saw a boat just -now fastened at the jetty in your garden. -Please lend it to me and I will go out alone -upon the bay.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Astonished by the audaciousness of the -lad, the master said: “It is too wild an -idea, my boy. What if the shark upsets -your boat? He will swallow you up in an -instant.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“As to what you say about drowning, -that doesn’t disturb me at all. Suppose -<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>I have no luck and lose my life, there is -nothing to be regretted if by my death I -succeed in removing the great calamity -under which many are now suffering. -And, as I said before, it is my determination -to become the leading merchant of -Japan; but if I am to realize my ambition -I must be prepared to run many risks. If -fortune favors me I shall come safe -through them and attain my object; if, -however, this first venture goes against -me, and I go out to sea and fall a prey to -the <i>wanizame</i>, it simply means that I must -accept it as the decree of fate, and, as far -as my life is concerned, I am quite ready -to risk it.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master, who was much struck by -his fearless determination, worthy of the -boy’s descent, said to him, “Indeed, your -magnanimity is greater than ours, but for -that very reason we should be all the more -sorry to lose you.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Saying this, he turned round to his wife, -who whispered in his ear: “I quite agree -with you: if he be swallowed up by the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>shark, we couldn’t possibly get another -like him; send some other one instead!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Just then in came the girl, attended by -Sadakichi, who had long been waiting for -the boy, and said, “Bunkichi, please be -quick and make me another dragon-fly.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Her mother, however, at once stopped -the girl, saying: “Come, come; Bunkichi -has something else to think about besides -dragon-flies: he’s just saying that he -wants to go out to sea and kill the <i>wanizame</i>.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The girl was startled, for she was only -a child. “Does he go alone?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes, that is what he says he will do.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Don’t, please, mother; I don’t like your -sending him to sea.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Why, my child?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I want him to make me a bamboo -dragon-fly.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>His curiosity aroused at hearing the little -girl speak of the dragon-fly, the father -said, “What do you wish him to make for -you?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Oh, father, it’s a bamboo dragon-fly—an -<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>amusing toy which flies up high, -whizzing,” was her confident answer.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Ah, I see,” he remarked, as he understood -the girl’s request; “that flying bamboo -thing I often see when I go out on -the streets. The toy, I remember, was first -made by a boy of great filial virtue in a -certain country district, and even here they -talk about him; it is clever of you, Bunkichi, -to have learned how to make them.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Then Sadakichi interrupted, saying: -“No wonder! Why, he was the hawker -of the toy; I know all about it, as I saw -him selling it at Kada-no-Ura.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Are you, then, the inventor of the -toy?” asked the master, to whom the boy -at once replied in the affirmative. The -master, who was more than ever struck -by the boy’s character, said, “Are you, -then, the same boy whom all the people -talk about and praise for his devotion to -his parent?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Then the girl, who remembered what -had been told her a little while before, said: -“Father, his family was very poor, and, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>as his father was laid up on his sick-bed, -he sold those dragon-flies and bought -medicine or a little rice for the family. -He told me so.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As she was listening to this conversation, -tears stood in the mother’s eyes, and -she said: “He is really a model boy, is he -not? I can’t possibly let him go to sea.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master, who was much of the same -way of thinking as his wife, answered, -“Of course, I have been persuading him -to give up his idea”; and, turning to Bunkichi, -said, “Yes, do give it up, my boy.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>And the girl, seemingly with the intention -of inspiring the boy with dread and -deterring him from his purpose, remarked -solemnly, “Oh, it is dreadful to be swallowed -by the shark on going to sea!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, having once determined, was -immovable. “Sir, trading to a merchant -is the same that fighting is to a knight. It -has been ever regarded honorable in a -knight that he should hazard his life many -a time, even in his early youth. If fate be -against him, he will be put to death by his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>enemy. The knights of old faced the dangerous -issues of life or death as often as -they went out to battle. As they attained -to renown by passing through these ordeals, -so, too, must the merchant who -aspires after a leading position not shrink -from braving many dangers in his life. -Sir, methinks the present is the opportunity -given me to try my hand; and if fate -sides with me and I succeed in killing the -<i>wanizame</i>, in future I shall have courage -to venture out on other great undertakings. -If one begins to be nervous at the -outset, one will go on being nervous forever; -but there is no fear, I think, for a -man who is ready to sacrifice even his own -life.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master, meeting with such unflinching -determination, knew not how to -stop him, but said: “I must confess you -have more in you than I thought. I am -ashamed of myself to be thus taught by -you the secret of success in trade when I -should be in a position to teach you. Well -said, my boy; trading is to a business man -<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>what fighting is to a knight. If you begin -by being weak and timid, you will never -be capable of bold enterprise. If you have -a mind to divine your future by embarking -on this exploit, go in for it with all your -might. As to the preparations for making -the straw man, as far as buying the -poison is concerned, I will do it all for you. -You had better go up to the mountain -yonder, and ascertain the place where the -shark is generally to be seen coming up -to the surface. You, Sadakichi, had better -take him up to the Sumiyoshi<a id='r13' /><a href='#f13' class='c018'><sup>[13]</sup></a> bluff, -and point him out the monster if it should -come up and show itself on the surface of -the water in the mouth of the harbor.”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f13'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r13'>13</a>. </span>Pronounced Soo-mee-yo’shee.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, who was much delighted at -having gained his wish, said: “Then, sir, -please let an apothecary prepare a lot of -drugs which are likely to be the best poison -for a <i>wanizame</i>, and I will go and have a -lookout for the appearance of the monster.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As he was about to start, the girl asked -<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>him, in a little voice of remonstrance, -“But when will you make a dragon-fly for -me, Bunkichi?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“When I come back, miss,” was his reply.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Come, come; he can’t be bothered -about such a trifle now,” said her mother.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Meanwhile the two lads, Bunkichi and -Sadakichi, hand in hand, went up to the -Sumiyoshi bluff, which stood just outside -the town on the eastern side of Kumano -Bay. The mountain rose precipitously -from the sea, whose fathomless water -washed its southern base. A thick forest -of pines covered the mountain, and the -vibrating of their needle foliage in the -breeze added a strange harp-like accompaniment -to the perpetual roaring of the -waves below. On reaching the summit, -Bunkichi threw himself down on a knotty -root of pine near the edge of a precipice -and gazed out on the broad expanse -of Kumano Bay. As far as his view -reached, no shore could be descried; only -the line where the dome of the azure sky -circled the deep blue of the ocean.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>After sitting thus in silent contemplation -for a few minutes, Bunkichi suddenly -turned round and said to Sadakichi: “Sea -scenery is always fine to look at, isn’t it? -I am fond of this sort of rough sea. I -should like to have a swim in it.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Don’t talk such nonsense; you would -no sooner get into it than you would be -swamped,” was the reply.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“That’s just what I like. I should dive -deep down into the water and get out of -the whirlpool. And now, tell me where it -is the <i>wanizame</i> generally pops out its -head.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“It generally comes out just below this -headland,” the other answered, “at the -mouth of the harbor.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As the two boys were steadily gazing on -the surface of the water, sure enough, up -came the shark, and startled Sadakichi by -cleaving the water with its back. Whether -it was in frolic or in quest of prey, the -monster swam to and fro, now showing its -head and now its tail. Its rock-like back -and its iron-like fins were horrible enough -to inspire even men with awe.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>Sadakichi, feeling nervous at the sight, -said to his companion, “Bunkichi San, -now you see the monster, you will be for -giving up your grand job, I fancy.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“What! You don’t suppose I’m frightened, -do you,” was his scornful retort, “at -the sight of such a little fish?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“What do you say?” said the other.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Well, if the chance came in my way, I -might even kill a leviathan or a crocodile!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As these two were thus talking, a gust -of wind from the high Nachi Mountain -swept down on the forest of Sumiyoshi -and awakened the myriad tiny harps of the -pines, while the waves rolled one after -another against the rocks below. These -sounds combined to drown the voices of the -lads, one of whom seemed to be persuading -the other that it was time to go back, while -the other seemed to be insisting on staying -a little longer to enjoy the wild scenery -and to think over the issues of his scheme.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span> - <h2 class='c009'>CHAPTER III<br /> <br /><span class='c016'>A BOAT CAPSIZED—A HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE</span></h2> -</div> -<div class='c017'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di-t.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -THE master of the Daikokuya, -who had been much struck by -the wisdom and courage of -Bunkichi, lost no time in -going to an apothecary to get plenty of -the poisonous stuff for the <i>wanizame</i>, -while he ordered some of his men to prepare -the straw dummy.</p> - -<p class='c011'>In course of time the two lads, Bunkichi -and Sadakichi, came back from Sumiyoshi -bluff. The master welcomed them -into his own room, and said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“How now, Bunkichi? Did you see -the shark?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes, sir, I saw it,” was the reply.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“And now that you have seen the monster -<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>are you less disposed to go out to -sea?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No; on the contrary,” replied the lad, -“I am the more ready to go.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Isn’t that obstinacy on your part?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Not in the least, sir,” the lad said, as -he drew himself up; “the greater the opponent, -the greater the interest and -strength that are called for; and I am -about to do this at the risk of my life. I -well observed the spot where the shark -comes up, and noticed a large pine-tree -which projects over the sea from the -precipice. If some one will let fall a stout -rope from one of its branches, I will row -over to it, and there I shall entice the -shark to swallow the straw dummy; then -if the shark, in plunging about, should -upset my boat, I shall take hold of the -rope and climb or be hauled up the precipice.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master, who was once more struck -by words which showed so much sagacity -as well as courage, said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“That’s a very good idea of yours. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>Then this is what we shall decide to do, -is it? I shall send out some of my young -men to the Sumiyoshi bluff to fix a rope -to the pine branch from the precipice, and -you will tie the rope to your waist before -you go out on your venture. I and others -will stand upon the cliff and watch you, -and should you be in danger of being -swallowed by the monster, we shall lose -no time in hauling you up. Is that to be -our plan of action?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes, that’s the plan,” was the boy’s -reply.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Well, then, I have bought the poison, -and can soon have ready as many as three -dummies. When do you think of setting -out?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Now, at once,” answered Bunkichi.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“That is rushing it too quickly, my lad. -Wouldn’t it be better for you to wait -till to-morrow?” remonstrated the master.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Unless things of this kind are done -quickly and made easy work of, some obstacles -may arise and frustrate our plans; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>so I will just do it with as little concern as -you snap your fingers,” said the lad.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“You can’t do things so lightly as you -say,” was the master’s reply.</p> - -<p class='c011'>And his wife, who had been listening, -and who regretted having given her consent -to the boy’s rash project, added: -“Bunkichi, do stay at home to-day and -spend it in preparation and do the work -to-morrow.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>And the little girl also said: “I don’t -care for your going to sea.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>But Bunkichi, having once made up his -mind in the matter, was not to be moved -by any one’s entreaties.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Then, by your leave, sir,” he said, -“I will take that little boat at the jetty.” -And without more delay he rose up to -go.</p> - -<p class='c011'>His master knew not how to stop him, -but said: “No, no; that small boat is dangerous; -and, if you must go, you had better -go out in the <i>temmabune</i>.”<a id='r14' /><a href='#f14' class='c018'><sup>[14]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f14'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r14'>14</a>. </span>Pronounced Tem-mah-bonn’ay. A larger boat.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“No, sir,” said the lad; “the <i>temmabune</i> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>is too big for me to row alone, so I -prefer the small one.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“But I am in great concern about your -personal safety if you go alone,” said the -master. “I will give ten <i>rio</i> to any one -who will go with you.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Though he quickly made known this -offer to the members of his household as -well as among his neighbors, no one ventured -to offer himself on account of the -people’s repeated and terrible experiences. -Bunkichi soothed his master, saying that -he was much freer if left to act by himself -than he would be if there were others -with him. Quickly putting the three dummies -into the small boat outside the garden -gate, with marvelous coolness, as if -he were going out for pleasure, he said: -“Good-by, everybody; I will go now, and -be back again soon.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master, who was first to stir, led -out to the jetty some of his young men -as well as some strong coolies. Three or -four big ropes having been made ready, -he said:</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>“Now, Bunkichi, tie one of these to -your waist.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“It’s no use, sir, till I get near the -mountain,” replied the lad, but the master -said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“But just think, if on your way out -the shark should turn up! We shall pull -you along the coast while you will row -as near as you can to the land.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, who couldn’t resist the master’s -persuasion, let him tie the rope round -his waist, and the master himself took -hold of the end of it and together with -others went along the shore toward Sumiyoshi -bluff.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, having been brought up at -the seaside, was an excellent rower, but -as they pulled along the rope he rowed -but slightly. Suddenly he took out a dagger -which had been handed down from -his ancestors and unsheathed it, smiling as -he noted the temper of the steel.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Who spread the news no one knew, yet -the people in the town came out in a -crowd, and every one was surprised to see -<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>a boy, alone in a boat, sallying forth to kill -the monster.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Isn’t he a wonderfully courageous -boy!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“He is no common boy. Perhaps he -may yet be as famous as our great hero -Kato Kiyomasa.”<a id='r15' /><a href='#f15' class='c018'><sup>[15]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f15'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r15'>15</a>. </span>The conqueror of Korea in 594 <span class='fss'>A.D.</span></p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“Isn’t he cool!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Hasn’t he wonderful presence of -mind!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Such expressions as these escaped from -everybody’s lips. Thus praising him as -they went along, the crowd followed the -master.</p> - -<p class='c011'>From among the crowd an old woman -stepped out with a rosary in one -hand and said to the master:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Sir, please let me hold the rope, -<i>Namu-Ami-Dabutsu</i>.”<a id='r16' /><a href='#f16' class='c018'><sup>[16]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f16'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r16'>16</a>. </span>An expression used in one of the Buddhistic prayers. -Among a certain class of Japanese it was believed that by repeating -this phrase frequently their chances of going to heaven -were increased.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The young men turned to her and said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Ill omen! Don’t say such a thing as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span><i>Namu-Ami-Dabutsu</i>. This is not the -rope for you to pull.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>In spite of the taunt she still muttered -the sacred charm of the Buddha sect, saying:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“But do let me hold it. I am the leader -in pulling timbers for the repairing of the -Hongwanzi<a id='r17' /><a href='#f17' class='c018'><sup>[17]</sup></a> temple. Yet I must have -my share, because I am sure that the lad -is a hero sent by Buddha himself to save -us from our troubles. <i>Namu-Ami-Dabutsu</i>,” -repeated the woman.</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f17'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r17'>17</a>. </span>The headquarters of the Buddhist religion in Kioto.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Just then a maid-servant carrying a little -girl on her back came along the shore -after the woman. The latter turned to the -little girl and said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Ah, you are the daughter of the Daikokuya. -Do you want to pull this rope, -too? <i>Namu-Ami-Da—</i>”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The girl wouldn’t listen to her words, -but, looking intently at the boat in the distance, -called out aloud, “Bunkichi!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The other bystanders, who heard the -name for the first time, said: “Ah, his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>name is Bunkichi, is it?” and at once -shouted, “Bunkichi Daimiozin,” which is -a title they give to the gods.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The lad, taking little notice of the stir -on the shore, soon came to the foot of the -bluff. The master and others went up -the hillside along the edge of the precipice, -while the lad began to prepare for -his task.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The long summer day was already declining -and a cool breeze from the far -ocean blew about his broad sleeves, and -the voice of the crowd grew fainter and -fainter as, hidden by the pine-trees, they -wound their way up to the top of the hill. -Yet now and then Bunkichi heard his -master’s voice faintly calling to him, to -which he made reply to assure him of his -safety. Looking out toward the ocean -there was no sail or boat to be seen, probably -owing to the people’s fear of meeting -the shark. A checkered bank of white -and dark clouds was massed on the sky -above the horizon, while the waves chased -one another below.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>Any ordinary man would have quailed -at such a scene as this; but Bunkichi, with -no sign of nervousness, put the straw -figures in the bow of the boat and proceeded -toward the place where the shark -usually made its appearance. He could -now see the master and others above the -precipice as they began attaching the rope -to a strong limb of the sturdy pine which -projected seaward. Thus all the preparations -were made for hauling him up -at the given signal, while the lad was also -preparing himself for the encounter and -reconnoitering the scene from his boat.</p> - -<p class='c011'>At last the iron-like fin of the monster -was seen to cleave the water. Apparently -rejoiced at the sight of a man, as Bunkichi’s -figure must have been now and then -reflected on the water, the shark in quest -of prey raised its head above the water -and made for the boat.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Come on, you villain,” muttered the -lad, who stood up in the bow with the -dummy in his hand.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The terror-stricken young men at the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>top of the precipice no sooner saw the -monster than they were on the point of -pulling up the rope; but the master stayed -them, saying: “Steady, men, steady! -Wait till he gives us a signal.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master anxiously watched the lad’s -action, while the crowd hardly breathed -as they stood still with hands clenched.</p> - -<p class='c011'>With a splash, Bunkichi threw the figure -in the way of the <i>wanizame</i>; the -shark turned over, the white portion of -its body gleamed, and it snapped the -stuffed figure, drawing it under the water. -Up it came again, and the lad threw out -the second dummy; but the monster did -not take any notice of it, but made straight -for the lad. Above, on the top of the precipice, -the master awaited Bunkichi’s signal -with breathless interest, but no signal was -given yet. With his dagger drawn in one -hand and raising the third straw figure in -the other, Bunkichi threw it at the enemy’s -head. Whether it was that the poison -was already taking effect or that the -charm of the noted sword frightened the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>monster, it turned back on a sudden and -retreated a few yards. Before the anxious -crowd could divine the next movements -of the shark, it began to plunge -about in and out of the water on the farther -side of the boat. Then, seemingly -in agony, it swam about with almost lightning -speed, now toward the shore and now -toward the ocean, and the sea became like -a boiling whirlpool in which the little boat -seemed every moment in danger of being -overwhelmed.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, who saw his plan had succeeded, -at once began to row back. At -this juncture, as fate would have it, the -monster made a sudden dash at the boat, -which was at once overturned. The signal -had hardly been given when, after a -moment of awful anxiety, the lad was in -the air, suspended by the rope. The monster -again made a mad rush, only to bruise -its head against a rock, and with weakened -strength returned toward the deep, -riding on the retreating tide.</p> - -<div id='i063' class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/i063.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“The lad was in the air, suspended by the rope”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>As for Bunkichi, the rope was drawn -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>up steadily and with care, and he soon -found himself safely perched on the stout -branch of the pine.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master of the Daikokuya, when he -saw Bunkichi once again on solid ground, -never uttered a word, but took his hand -and put it on his forehead in token of his -unutterable gratitude, while tears of joy -flowed from his eyes. The others knew -not how to do otherwise on the sudden -alternation from dread to joy.</p> - -<p class='c011'>After a while Bunkichi left the crowd -and went to the most commanding position -on the precipice and gazed down -upon the sea, and saw the shark on its -back floating to and fro, the sport of the -waves. His joy knew no bounds, and he -said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I thank you all; I have been saved by -your help. The shark now seems to be -dead.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>These words he uttered with his customary -coolness, showing that he had not -been at all frightened by the terrible experience -he had passed through, while -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>the others could hardly yet shake off the -dread they had felt.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Addressed thus by the lad, the master -now recovered his speech, and said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No; it isn’t <i>you</i> who have been saved -by <i>us</i>, but <i>we</i> who have all been saved by -<i>you</i>. The shark dies and the people live, -or the shark lives and the people must die. -I have no words to express my gratitude -to you. And now we must get back as -soon as possible and let the people know -the joyous news.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>While the master thus hurried the -others to go back, Bunkichi stopped him -and said: “Sir, if we leave the shark as -it is, it may revive. It is a pity to leave -it, now that it is as good as killed. Let us -haul it up by the aid of the rope. It -seems that the boat, which was upset, has -drifted to the base of the bluff. Let some -of us get down and bail the water out of -it, and I will, with the help of you all, try -to secure the shark.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master agreed to the proposal and -called for volunteers, but in vain. Some -<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>young fellows pretended to be ill, and -others suspected the shark might yet be -alive and swallow them if they went near -it.</p> - -<p class='c011'>At last, however, the master prevailed -on a few of them to go down with the -lad to help him.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span> - <h2 class='c009'>CHAPTER IV<br /> <br /><span class='c016'>THE TABLES TURNED</span></h2> -</div> -<div class='c017'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di-b.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -BUNKICHI, with the help of a -few others, set the boat up, -and, bailing the water out, -got in and went out again -to sea. Putting a rope round the body of -the shark, which was being tossed about -by the waves, they drew it close to the foot -of the bluff. While Bunkichi by himself -rowed back home, the young men dragged -the dead monster along the coast toward -the Daikokuya. The crowd on the bank -applied themselves as one man to the task, -and got hold of the rope, and the shark -was finally landed. Amusing it was to -see that old woman pull hard along with -the rest.</p> - -<p class='c011'>After this heroic deed the reputation of -Bunkichi spread through the length and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>breadth of Kumano town, and he was -nicknamed as the <i>Wanizame-Kozo</i>, or -Shark-Boy; but who started the name no -one can tell. His exploit, however, was -soon carried to the ear of <i>Odaikan</i>,<a id='r18' /><a href='#f18' class='c018'><sup>[18]</sup></a> and -this great person himself came down to -the shore and made a thorough inspection -of the monster. Ten pieces of silver were -awarded by the lord of the province to -Bunkichi in recognition of his noble services -in putting a stop to the scourge of -the town. The master was proud of Bunkichi, -and the town people rejoiced at his -good fortune.</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f18'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r18'>18</a>. </span>The name given to the local magistrate in olden days.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The size of the shark which the lad -killed was more than three <i>ken</i>, or some -eighteen feet in length, and its skin was so -hard that the sharpest sword could not -pierce it. The dealers in swords vied with -one another in the offers they made the -master for the skin, for they knew it -would make an excellent binding for -sword-hilts. Bunkichi asked his master -to sell it, and the transaction was soon -<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>made, and the master handed over the -whole of the price to Bunkichi as the -fruit of his brave deed. The lad would -not even touch it. He had heard, he said, -that the fishermen in the neighborhood, -from not being able to go out as hitherto -on account of the shark, were in great -straits even for their daily food, and -therefore he wished to distribute the -money among them. The proposal was -at once accepted, and the money was -divided either among the people who had -suffered on account of the shark, or -among the bereaved families whose members -had fallen victims to its voracity.</p> - -<p class='c011'>That Bunkichi was possessed of courage, -his actions had abundantly proved; -the people were now profoundly struck -by his moral virtue since they had received -his alms. The name of <i>Wanizame-Kozo</i> -soon got its suffix <i>Sama</i>, or its -equivalent in English of “Mr.,” and whenever -he appeared in the streets everybody, -whether personally known to him or not, -seemed to thank him by making him the -most courteous obeisances.</p> - -<div id='i071' class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span> -<img src='images/i071.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“Putting a rope round the body of the shark”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>In course of time, as the people in remote -country places came to hear of Bunkichi’s -exploit, they pressed in large numbers -to the shop of the Daikokuya, not so -much to buy clothing as for the purpose -of seeing the little hero’s face. From that -day the master doubled the amount of his -daily receipts, as his trade prospered. Because -of the prosperity brought to the -house by the lad, the household of the -Daikokuya accorded him special treatment, -quite different from that given -the other boys in the shop; in fact, he -was treated as if he were the son of the -family. But Bunkichi, on his part, served -his master better than the other boys were -able or willing to. In spite of his master’s -forbidding him, he was first on the scene -in the morning to sweep the street in -front of the shop and to put the shop in -order and to sell goods to customers however -early they might come. Then, having -carefully settled accounts at the close -of the day, he would devote his evenings -to the mastery of the abacus and to writing -Chinese characters. His praiseworthy -<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>behavior impressed everybody -who saw or heard him.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Two or three months passed in this -way, and the lad’s fame became ever -greater, and further prosperity was -brought to the house. Then the master -took counsel of his wife:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“As we haven’t any boys, Chocho being -the only child we have, sooner or later -we shall have to adopt a son. I don’t care -to have any one of whose intentions and -character I know nothing. Rather it -would please me to have Bunkichi as our -foster-son. What do you think about -this?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>His wife said gladly:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I agree with you, my husband; he -would be just the one to whom to leave -the conduct of the business, and if we -could make him our adopted son, what a -pleasure it would be! You had better do -it quickly.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master pondered awhile and then -said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“But, you see, he hopes to become the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>leading merchant in Japan, and thereby -to raise the name of his ancestors; therefore -he would not like to be adopted into -another family. This would be the first -hitch in the arrangement, I fancy.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No, my dear; our intention, of course, -is to give him the whole of this our property—and -that certainly should be sufficient -inducement to any one.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No, I think not,” said the other, as he -put his head on one side in contemplation; -“he is not the boy who will prize such a -small property as ours. I don’t care to -run the risk of humbling myself by speaking -to him rashly. What I want is to ascertain -his intention at some opportune -moment.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Sadakichi, who had been playing in -company with the little girl on the veranda -outside the <i>shoji</i>, first heard this conversation, -and one day told Bunkichi about -it. The latter said to himself:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“My intention has been to win fame -and thereby to raise our ancestors’ name, -so it would never do for me to be adopted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>into another family. Trouble will come -if I stay here any longer, and I shall be -put in such a strait that I shall feel obliged -to fall in with this proposal.” So he -thought he would do best to leave the -house quickly and try his hand independently -at some trade.</p> - -<p class='c011'>One evening he sought his master and -said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Sir, it is rather an abrupt request to -make of you, but I have conceived a plan -by which I can earn money; so please let -me trade by myself. As capital to start -with, it will be sufficient for me to employ -those silver coins which I received for -reward and which you have kept for me.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master, without knowing the lad’s -secret intention, said: “If you wish to -trade on your own account, I will lend -you capital or give you any help you want; -but what is the plan you have in mind?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“It’s simply this, sir. Since the disappearance -of the <i>wanizame</i> the people -nowadays get an abundant catch of fish, -and in consequence I hear there is a scarcity -of fishing-tackle, nets, and their belongings. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>So I wish to go up to Osaka -and get a supply.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master made one clap with his -hands in token of his approval, and said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Well thought of, my lad! If you get -a supply from Osaka now, you are sure to -reap a good profit. Besides, all the fishermen -round about here received your alms -and regard you as one of the gods. If -they hear of your selling fishing-tackle, -they will gladly come to purchase of you. -But you cannot transact the business by -yourself alone, so I will send some one to -assist you, and also I will lend you as -much capital as you wish. Therefore, go -and make whatever investment you think -necessary.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi did not wish to receive this -favor, as he intended trading without the -help of any one.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Sir, let me trade with my own capital -alone without any other help in this instance,” -he replied. “Only, when the -cargo comes, will you please give it storeroom -for me?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As the master knew Bunkichi would not -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>be induced to accept others’ advice when -he had definitely made up his mind, he -said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Very well, then; you may try to -manage for yourself. No other boy of -your age could transact the business, but -probably you may succeed.” Thus saying, -he went himself and brought a packet -of money.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“This is the money I have been keeping -for you.” And then he produced another -packet which contained fifty pieces -of silver, saying:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“This is only a trifling recognition of -your services in the shop, by which we -have enjoyed much prosperity; I hope you -will accept it.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi again and again refused to -accept this additional gift, but in vain, for -the master almost forced him to receive -it, and said:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“When you come back from Osaka, -you will stay again with us, won’t you?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi hesitated and stammered out: -“Yes, sir; I might trouble you again, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>though I intend to continue in some trade -of my own.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Of course you may go in for whatever -trade you like, and if you can conveniently -carry on your trade while you stay -at my house, please make yourself at home -in it, and do not think that you need help -in my shop on that account.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As Bunkichi had no other home, he accepted -this kind offer for his future protection -after his return, and the next day, -when he had prepared himself for the -journey, he left the Daikokuya for Osaka.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Though he was a boy in appearance, -his mind was equal to that of a full-grown -man. At the time of his leave-taking, the -master was insisting on getting him a -through <i>kago</i>, or Japanese palanquin, to -Osaka, which he had refused as unnecessary. -In his courageous onward march -he came to a lonely part of the road; he -was, however, well used to traveling, -owing to those early days of wandering -when he sold the dragon-flies for the support -of his family, and by the experience -<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>of his lonely journey to Kumano. But in -this present journey, as he carried with -him a great sum of money in his pocket, -he felt somewhat encumbered and could -not walk as lightly as he wished.</p> - -<p class='c011'>On the afternoon of the day when he -came to the mountainous region he was -well-nigh tired out, and he hired a <i>kago</i> to -carry him. The coolies no sooner put him -into the palanquin than they started off at -almost a running pace, and after a short -time they turned off from the highway -into a bypath. The lad called out, in suspicion:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Aren’t you taking a rather strange -road?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Both coolies answered in one voice:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“This is a short cut, lad.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As they went on they got more and -more into the wilds of the mountains, and -Bunkichi thought to himself that they -might belong to that class of rascals who -prey on the traveler’s pockets. Nevertheless -it was too late to do anything against -them, so he kept himself in perfect peace -<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>by determining not to show that he suspected -them.</p> - -<p class='c011'>When the coolies were come to a trackless -thicket, they put the <i>kago</i> down, and, -thinking to pull out the boy, looked in and -found him fast asleep.</p> - -<p class='c011'>They stared at one another in astonishment -and said: “Why, he is sleeping! -The fellow takes life easy, eh? Come, my -boy, get up! get up!” and one of them -poked him on the shoulder, and the other, -taking hold of his foot, pulled him out.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi rubbed his eyes and yawned -twice or thrice.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Well, Mr. Coolie,—I mean you two,—what’s -the matter?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The coolies said somewhat fiercely: -“Look here; you’ve got some money with -you, haven’t you?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>He answered in perfect coolness, as if -nothing had happened, “Yes, I have.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>They thought more and more the lad -was a pretty easy simpleton to deal with, -and said: “We knew you had some fifty -or sixty <i>rio</i>, and that is why we brought -<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>you here. Come, now, hand out all you’ve -got, for if you refuse you’ll suffer for it.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The lad burst out into laughter, saying: -“If you want the money you shall have -it”; and he took out the wrapped package -of money and threw it down in front of -them.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The coolies, seeing the perfect composure -of the lad, wondered who this boy -could be, and they began to grow nervous, -and one of them said in a whisper to the -other: “May he not be a fox?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“We don’t know but what this money -may turn into tree-leaves,” was the answer, -and both looked into the boy’s face.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The boy said, as he smiled: “You cowardly -thieves, are you afraid?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>He stepped out a pace before them, -while they stepped back a little and said, -“We are not afraid,” visibly suppressing -their fear.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The lad peered into their faces. “If -you aren’t afraid, why do you tremble -so?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“We’re cold; that is why.”</p> - -<div id='i083' class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span> -<img src='images/i083.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“As though they were stricken by thunder at the boy’s words, down they tumbled on the ground”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>“You cowards! Take the money and -be gone!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The coolies looked at each other, and -wouldn’t take the money up into their -hands, while the lad stood firmly grasping -the hilt of the dagger of Kiku-ichi-monji -within his pocket, ready to fight it -out in case they might treat him roughly.</p> - -<p class='c011'>They were thoroughly outwitted by the -audacity of the lad, and said: “Where -have you come from?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Kumano is my home.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>One of them turned pale. “Why, maybe -he is the Shark-Boy!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes, I am that very boy,” retorted the -lad.</p> - -<p class='c011'>No sooner did the coolies hear this than -they cried with one voice: “Let us up and -be gone!” As they were about to turn -on their heels, Bunkichi said, as he drew -his dagger:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“If you run off I will cut you in two.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As though they were stricken by thunder -at the boy’s words, down they tumbled -on the ground, and could not rise in spite -<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>of themselves. “Only spare our lives, if -you please!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As they begged for mercy, the lad -coldly smiled, saying: “What is it you -fear?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Please spare us! We cannot bear the -thought that you will finish us off as you -did the <i>wanizame</i>,” they gasped in a -trembling voice. These coolies had heard -of his brave deed in killing the shark, and -they thought that he had killed it by a feat -of swordsmanship, and that he was a warrior -general like him of Ushiwaka-maru<a id='r19' /><a href='#f19' class='c018'><sup>[19]</sup></a> -of old. He at once perceived what was -the cause of their fear, and said:</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f19'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r19'>19</a>. </span>A boy hero who learned fencing from a mountain elf -in the wilderness of Atago.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“Are you weaker than the <i>wani</i>?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No, sir; we sha’n’t be beaten by the -<i>wani</i>,”—though they still trembled.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi resheathed his short sword as -he said: “Then take me to where we -agreed.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>With a prompt “Yes, sir,” they rose up, -while the lad got into the palanquin. They -<span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>took up the money and nervously brought -it to the lad, who said as he glanced at it:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Put it on the top of the <i>kago</i>.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“We’re afraid it may drop down unnoticed,” -was their answer.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“It’s too heavy for me to carry; tie -it somewhere where it will be safe.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Then the coolies tightly tied the package -to the pole by which the <i>kago</i> was carried. -He did not take the money with him -again, for fear that they might harm him -in case their avaricious temper got the upper -hand and they should make off with it.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The coolies, however, had no courage -left to renew their attempt; but they went -on most solemnly and steadily, as though -they were carrying the <i>tengu</i>.<a id='r20' /><a href='#f20' class='c018'><sup>[20]</sup></a> Bunkichi, -finding the situation rather too quiet and -tame, addressed them: “Do you often -play the part of villains?”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f20'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r20'>20</a>. </span>A mountain elf.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“No, sir. It was the first time, sir. -We were tempted to the wickedness when -we saw you were carrying a lot of money; -we knew it by your manner of walking.”</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>“I don’t believe you. I suspect you -have committed villainous acts a good -many times, but henceforth there must be -an end of them.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes, sir; we have had a lesson and -sha’n’t try that game again!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The lad laughed and said: “That is interesting!” -This was a peculiar exclamation -he used often to make.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Meanwhile Bunkichi came to a certain -station where he got out of the <i>kago</i>. He -gave the coolies something extra to their -fare, while warning them against the continuance -of their evil practices.</p> - -<p class='c011'>No sooner had they got their money -than they slunk away as quickly as they -could.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span> - <h2 class='c009'>CHAPTER V<br /> <br /><span class='c016'>THE BATTLE OF STONE MISSILES—THE MONKEYS’ PANIC</span></h2> -</div> -<div class='c017'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di-h.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -HAVING stayed that night at -an inn, Bunkichi hastened on -his way along the Hama-Kaido, -or the “shore road.” -When he came to a lonely spot in the road, -he saw a man in the distance, scantily clad, -apparently making preparations for hanging -himself. On ran Bunkichi and caught -hold of the man, asking him at the same -time why he had come to such a pass as to -attempt suicide.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I am a certain Kichidayu, a native of -Sakai in Izumi Province, and a sailor,” -answered the man, while tears stood in his -eyes as he spoke. “I was in charge of a -ship of one thousand <i>koku</i>,<a id='r21' /><a href='#f21' class='c018'><sup>[21]</sup></a> and on my -<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>voyage to Yedo with a cargo of <i>sake</i><a id='r22' /><a href='#f22' class='c018'><sup>[22]</sup></a> my -boat was wrecked off this coast and the -crew of eighteen, all told, as well as the -whole of the cargo, were lost. Fortunately -I was washed up on the coast while -I was holding fast to a piece of board, but -having been terribly knocked about, I can -hardly drag myself along. Besides, the -loss of the ship, the cargo as well as the -crew, overpowers me with such a sense of -disgrace and wretchedness that I thought -I would rather die than go back to my -native town.”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f21'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r21'>21</a>. </span>Forty thousand gallons.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f22'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r22'>22</a>. </span>A kind of Japanese liquor.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, while he was listening to the -sad account of the wreck, surveyed the -man from head to foot, and perceived -many severe bruises, which—with his -honest manner of speaking—seemed to -prove the truth of his words.</p> - -<div id='i091' class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/i091.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“Giving him a helping hand, Bunkichi led the man along to the next village”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“I quite sympathize with you in your -misfortune,” said he, “but, my man, your -dying will not bring back the ship which -was wrecked nor the men who were lost; -so I think it would be better for you to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>keep yourself alive and atone for your loss -by succeeding with your next venture. -But without money you can’t even go to -a doctor. So allow me—”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Taking out five pieces of silver and putting -them in the hand of the sailor, he continued, -kindly and soothingly, “With -these get a doctor at once, my man.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The captain, as he looked into Bunkichi’s -face with an expression almost of -worship, said: “You are the kindest man -I ever came across, in spite of your apparent -youthfulness. As long as I live I shall -not forget you, and some day, perhaps, -I may have an opportunity to repay you -for your goodness to me.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>While he said this, tears rushed from -his eyes—for he was overcome by a sense -of gratitude and joy.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, having taken off his <i>haori</i>,<a id='r23' /><a href='#f23' class='c018'><sup>[23]</sup></a> -said to the man: “Put this on, though it -is not sufficient to protect you, and come -on with me to my next stopping-place.” -Though the seaman was reluctant to accept -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>so generous an offer, Bunkichi urged -him, and, giving him a helping hand, led -the man along to the next village, where -they found an inn, into which they went. -There a suit of clothes was purchased for -the sailor, and the lad recounted the story -of the wreck to the old woman, the keeper -of the inn, and asked her to send for a -doctor, who on arrival did whatever he -could for the poor man.</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f23'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r23'>23</a>. </span>A Japanese upper garment.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, who thought it likely he -might be of more service to the sailor, -said, in answer to his question: “I have -no house of my own, but you will find me -if you ask for one Bunkichi at the Daikokuya, -a cloth establishment at Kumano. -You, being a sailor, are sure to find any -amount of work if you go there; so please -look me up. I am in a hurry; I cannot -stop here longer. On my way back from -Osaka I shall call upon you. If you are -well before then, you had better go to Kumano -and wait for me there.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Thus kindly holding out hopes of helping -him in the future, he gave the old woman -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>a sum of money for the nursing of -the sailor, and hurried on his way.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Going on from one hotel to another, -and resolving to lose no time, Bunkichi at -last arrived in the city of Osaka. As he -had received a letter of introduction from -his master to a certain wholesale merchant -of the city, with whom the Daikokuya -had dealings, he went to this merchant -and asked for the articles he had been -commissioned to buy. The head of the -house, acquainted with the <i>wanizame</i> affair -by the letter, did everything in his -power to assist Bunkichi, and the transaction -went off smoothly and quickly. After -he had sent off the fishing-tackle to -Kumano on board a ship, he spent a few -days in sight-seeing as well as in observing -the ways in which big merchants carried -on their trade. Having thus spent -four or five days here, Bunkichi once more -took the same road home, and on the way -inquired at the inn after the captain whom -he had left there. To his great joy, the -sailor was well on the way to recovery; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>so he gave the man some more money for -his further needs, and hastened on to -Kumano-Ura, having promised to meet -him again there.</p> - -<p class='c011'>On the day following that on which he -had taken leave of the sailor, he came to -the hilly roads near Kumano. This part -of the country was noted then, as it is to-day, -for the production of oranges. All -over the hills he saw orange-trees in abundance, -and there, strange enough, he -heard a great noise of screaming and -chattering. He hastened his steps in the -direction of the noise. Lo, and behold! -Hundreds of monkeys, uncountable, had -drawn a circle around three men, whom -they were pelting with a shower of stones. -These wretched men, as they were apparently -unable to withstand the stone missiles -of the monkeys, had pulled their over-coats, -or <i>haori</i>, over their heads and were -crouching under an orange-bush, apparently -in despair, for they were doing nothing -but crying for help.</p> - -<div id='i097' class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/i097.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“Hundreds of monkeys had drawn a circle around three men whom they were pelting with a shower of stones”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>As the animals apparently thought it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>great fun, they kept on showering stones -as quickly as they could pick them up, and -it seemed probable that the three men -would have fallen victims to the monkeys -but for Bunkichi. When he saw how -things were going, quick as thought he -picked up a lot of pebbles from the wayside -and filled both his spacious sleeves -and his front pocket as well. Thus well -armed, on he rushed to the monkey army -and pulled out of his pocket the pebbles, -one after another, throwing them at the -frisky creatures. The monkeys, as they -screamed and chattered, at once confronted -the lad, and, perceiving him pull -out stones from his breast, they tried to do -the same. But of course they had no -pockets with stones in them, while Bunkichi -threw his missiles thick and fast. The -beasts in their rage began to pull off the -hair from their breasts and throw it from -them, while their monkey-chatter grew -louder and louder as their pain increased.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, who could not suppress his -laughter, contrived, as it were, to discharge -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>the missiles from his breast while -actually bringing out the stones from his -sleeves. As the monkeys drew closer to -him, still pulling off their hair, the three -men were now given time to breathe. -They at once came out from their hiding-place, -and, scolding the monkeys, began -to pick up stones to help in their turn their -deliverer in his stand against them.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The youth cried out, as he quickly perceived -their action: “No! No! Don’t -<i>pick up</i> stones! If any of you have the -instruments for striking fire, set fire as -quickly as you can to the dry grass.” The -men did as they were told, and as the wind -fanned the fire the smoke and flames soon -spread over the ground. The army of -monkeys, thinking the day was lost, set -up a great chatter and, jumping from tree -to tree, disappeared.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The men now recovered from their -fright, and, having put out the fire, -thanked Bunkichi and said: “We are most -grateful to you, sir. If you had not come -we should almost to a certainty have been -stoned to death by the monkeys.”</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>“It was a narrow escape, wasn’t it?” -remarked Bunkichi, “but I am curious to -know—did you not throw stones at them -first?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes,” replied the men, with animated -expression.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi could not help smiling as he -thought of how they had acted, and said: -“You know monkeys are foolish animals -and try to imitate whatever others do.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“You seem to know everything,” said -the men, who were much struck by his -wisdom. “But where have you come -from?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I live at Kumano,” was the reply, -“but was brought up at Kada-no-Ura; so -I know about monkeys, as we have plenty -of them there.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Then the leading one of the three, making -a polite bow, urged Bunkichi, saying: -“I am the owner of this orange farm, and -my home is not far from here. Please -come to my house.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>On the way thither he asked the boy his -name and where his home was.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I am one Bunkichi in the establishment -<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>called the Daikokuya, at Kumano,” -was his frank answer.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The host, having well observed the lad’s -face, said: “Ah, that’s why I thought I -had seen you somewhere. Then you are -that widely famed Mr. Wanizame-Kozo, -the Shark-Boy! The people in this neighborhood -owe you a great debt of gratitude, -because all the fruits produced here -in this part, oranges among other things, -when they are sent either to Tokio or to -Osaka, must first be sent to Kumano-Ura -to be shipped to those cities. But ever -since the appearance of that monster in -the harbor, all the shipping trade had come -entirely to a standstill, and we had to send -our fruits to other ports by a roundabout -way, which was a great nuisance to us; -whereas, owing to your wisdom and courage, -we can now send our cargo to Kumano -as we did before.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>After a pleasant visit of an hour or two, -Bunkichi was about to start. The host -stopped him for a minute and brought out -a little packet of money, and, placing it before -<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>him, said: “This trifle is only a token -of my gratitude to you. Please take it.” -Looking at it from the outside, it certainly -seemed no trifle; but the lad firmly but politely -declined to accept it, saying: “You -have no need to thank me.” And he would -not take it, in spite of the host’s earnest -entreaty. At last he said: “I don’t wish -to receive any recompense from you; however, -I have one favor to ask if you will -grant it me. I am thinking of trading -on my own account before long in various -articles, and if I come here some day to -buy oranges, will you deal with me?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“You make a very modest request,” answered -the host with ready assent. “I -will supply you with a cargo as cheaply as -possible at any moment you send me the -order, and as to the payment, I shall be in -no hurry for it; you may pay me whenever -you like. I can supply you with -thirty thousand boxes of oranges from -my own farm; and there are many more -farmers in the neighborhood who will be -glad to supply you if I let them know that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>you are the Wanizame-Kozo. At least I -can assure you I will fill your order, however -large it may be.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>With many thanks, Bunkichi took his -leave and was back in the Daikokuya that -evening.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span> - <h2 class='c009'>CHAPTER VI<br /> <br /><span class='c016'>THE GREAT HAZARD—A PERILOUS VOYAGE</span></h2> -</div> -<div class='c017'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di-t.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -THE cargo of fishing-tackle -which had been sent from -Osaka had already arrived -at Kumano and was awaiting -his return, so Bunkichi took his goods to -the fishing villages round about Kumano -for sale. The people vied with one another -in buying them, on account of their -being sold by Mr. Shark-Boy. Owing to -the price of tackle being then much higher -than at other times, as a result of the -scarcity of the supply, he made such a -good sale that the profit doubled the cost -of his outlay.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Taking care not to waste the money -thus obtained, he next opened a trade in -oranges, buying them at a cheap rate from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>the owner of the orange farm and retailing -them at Kumano when the market -value was high. By this means he made -another good profit; still he stayed on in -the Daikokuya as his temporary home, -and applied himself to business. Thus by -the end of the next year he had saved several -times the amount of his original capital.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Meanwhile Kichidayu, the sailor to -whom he had given kind help, came to him -after he had completely recovered. Bunkichi -asked the master of the Daikokuya -to employ him. He consented, and committed -to him, in the capacity of captain, -the management of a big ship.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Now Kichidayu’s devotion to Bunkichi -was so great that he was ready to sacrifice -his own life for his sake if occasion -should arise. “I admire your determination -immensely, and as I owe my life to -you, you may count on me for any assistance -in my power,” said the sailor to the -boy one day.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi rejoiced on hearing this and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>said, laughingly: “When the time comes -in which I shall make my fortune, such -property as the Daikokuya possesses I will -create in ten days.”</p> - -<hr class='c021' /> - -<p class='c011'>Four years had passed, during which time -Bunkichi had done well in his business, -trading in various articles, and a portion -of his profit he now and then distributed -among the poor people in the district. He -was now eighteen years of age. It was the -autumn of the year, and from the beginning -of the month of October a westerly -wind had been blowing many days. As a -consequence, the shipping trade at Kumano-Ura -was entirely stopped. Yet a cargo -of oranges bound from Kii Province for -Yedo<a id='r24' /><a href='#f24' class='c018'><sup>[24]</sup></a> was accumulating at Kumano-Ura -and beginning to rot away on account of -the warm climate of the province. From -Yedo had been received vain messages, -by the <i>hikiaku</i>, or running postmen, urging -them to send up the oranges, the necessary -fruit for the <i>Fuigo Matsuri</i>, or -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>bellows festival, which was then at hand. -Yet the sea became rougher every day as -the wind grew stronger, while the frowning -autumn sky hung overhead. The people -could not possibly put out any ship -nor do anything but stare and grumble -at the rough sea and the lowering clouds.</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f24'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r24'>24</a>. </span>The old name of the great Japanese city now called Tokio.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Every day Bunkichi went down to the -seashore also, and looked at the dark sky -as every one else did, yet he alone had a -certain expression of suppressed joy in -his face. The others said, “We hope this -stormy weather will come to an end soon,” -while he answered, “I hope it will do nothing -of the kind.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>They were surprised at this and said, -“Why, what’s the matter with you?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Who can tell?” he answered, laughing. -While he was thus engaged in casual -talk, Kichidayu, the sailor, came to -look at the condition of the sea. On seeing -him the lad beckoned him aside by a -tree and said: “Kichidayu San, when do -you suppose this wind will cease?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I wish it would stop soon,” he answered, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>“but it doesn’t look like it, I -fear.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No, I shall be greatly disappointed if -it stops within two or three days.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Well, there’s not much chance of its -doing so,” was the sailor’s answer.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“That’s good,” the boy replied. “Before -it stops what do you say to having -a sail in a boat from here to Yedo? It -would be fine, wouldn’t it?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Kichidayu stared at Bunkichi in astonishment -and said: “Don’t joke, please. If -we were to put out a boat in this rough -sea, it would capsize in no time.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“That’s just where the interest lies. -Wouldn’t Kichidayu San like to try it for -once?” said the lad, while the other replied, -laughing, “Don’t carry your joking -too far!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi became serious. “Kichidayu -San, I’m not joking. If it was an east -or a north wind it would be difficult, -of course, but being a west wind, it’s a -fair wind toward Yedo, however strong -it may be, and so there is no reason -<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>why we should not be able to get to -Yedo.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Kichidayu, who thought that Bunkichi -was saying rather a strange thing, answered: -“If we should have good luck, -I don’t say that it’s impossible; however, -I do say it could only be a question of good -luck.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“That’s just where the interest lies,” -said the lad again. “One can do anything -that others can do. But it’s a fine thing -for a man to go to a place when others -can’t go. Kichidayu San, the time has -now come to make that fortune of money -of which I told you once, because in Yedo -the price of oranges, which are one of the -necessaries of the bellows festival, has -gone up ten times higher than at other -times, on account of the scarcity of the -fruit. Here, in this port, where the -oranges have accumulated because they -can find no customers, the price has gone -down ten times lower than the rate at -which they usually sell. So, if we can -buy at a price ten times lower than the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>usual rate, and sell at a price ten times -higher than the usual rate, naturally a -hundred <i>rio</i> will make ten thousand <i>rio</i>. -There isn’t likely to come such a good -chance twice in a lifetime. As to the ship, -I will ask the master of the Daikokuya to -let me have a big one, and if he does, will -you captain it for me? I intend to take -out in it a large cargo of oranges to Yedo -while this bad weather prevails.” The -lad thus for the first time revealed his ambitious -scheme.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Kichidayu folded both his arms on his -breast in contemplation. Then, as he -lifted his head, he said: “I will make the -attempt—yes, even to Yedo, for your -sake; I don’t grudge even my life. What -if my ship gets wrecked? I don’t care. -But are you thinking of coming on -board?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Of course; if I don’t go, the business -can’t be effected,” said Bunkichi. “Trading -is the same as a battle. In one of the -battles of old the warrior Yoshisune set -us an example by attacking the army of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>the Hei clan in the province of Shikoku -by sending out the war vessels from Daimotsuga-Ura -on a stormy night. If we -lose courage in such weather as this, we -cannot possibly accomplish any great -scheme. We shall enter upon it resolutely. -Should we die, let us die together. If I -gain my object, I will handsomely reward -you.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“We shall have to offer sailors ten -times their usual pay,” continued Bunkichi; -“you may then, perhaps, find fellows -who will be willing to come. Will -you be responsible for finding them?” -So saying, he gave the captain money for -the purpose, and, having intrusted the -matter to him, at once went home to the -Daikokuya and saw the master.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Danna,” said he, “among your ships -the oldest is that <i>Tenjin-maru</i><a id='r25' /><a href='#f25' class='c018'><sup>[25]</sup></a> of one -thousand <i>koku</i> burthen, is it not?”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f25'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r25'>25</a>. </span>A Japanese junk.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The master, who was somewhat startled -by the abruptness of the question, -said: “Yes, she is getting to be an old -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>vessel now, and I am thinking of breaking -her up.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Will you sell her to me?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>To which the master answered: “If -you want her, I don’t mind making you a -present of her; but what use will you put -her to?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I’m thinking of taking a cargo of -oranges to Yedo,” was the lad’s reply.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“When the bad weather is over, I suppose?” -said the master.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No; while this stormy weather is prevailing,” -was the reply.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master was startled, but gazing on -the boy for a moment, merely remarked: -“What an extraordinary idea!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>After a little hesitation, Bunkichi drew -nearer to the master. “Pray, master, sell -her to me,” said he; “I am again going -out on a trading battle.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Then the master understood his real -intention and said: “Well, if you are so -minded, you may not be afraid of this -storm; but the <i>Tenjin-maru</i> is in any case -a dangerous ship for this weather; so I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>will lend you one which is more seaworthy.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No, thank you, sir; I have no wish -to borrow,” replied the lad. “This undertaking -is a matter of fate. If I am -wrecked on the way out I cannot give you -your ship back again; so I shall not borrow -things of others, for I wish to do -everything on my own capital.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master knew the boy’s nature and -made no further objection, but said: -“Very well, I will sell her to you. You -will surely succeed. Come back again -laden with treasure!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Chocho, the master’s daughter, who -was now sixteen years of age, overheard -the conversation between the two and was -much surprised, and expressed her anxiety -as well as her sorrow in her face, and -said: “Does Bunkichi go to Yedo in this -storm?” The mother, too, longed to stop -him, but could not well interfere, because -her husband had already yielded his sanction -to the boy’s scheme. She only said, -loud enough to be heard by both, as she -<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>answered her daughter: “Yes, Cho, it is -most dangerous to go out to sea in this -great wind and storm!” To which the -girl responded: “Yes, mother!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, having paid the price of the -<i>Tenjin-maru</i> to his master, went to the -wholesale stores which were best known -to him and bought up their oranges. The -merchants, as they were sore oppressed -by the rotting of the fruit, were in the -state of “panting blue breath,” as they -say. Bunkichi, in a somewhat off-hand -manner, said to one of them: “Do the -oranges rot every day?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes, every day we are much troubled -about it; they rot away continually. Already -half of the stock we have is spoiled; -if it goes on at this rate, within another -ten days our whole stock will be lost.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Whereupon the lad said: “Are you -really prepared to sell them at whatever -price you can get for them?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Oh, yes, gladly; for how much better -would it be to sell even at a loss than to -pay for throwing the rotten stuff away!”</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>To which Bunkichi answered: “If that -is the case, I will buy from you at sixteen -<i>mon</i> per box as much stock as you have.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The merchant was taken aback at the -reply, and said: “Isn’t that <i>too</i> cheap?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“But if they rot away, you will get -nothing. I am not over-keen to buy,” said -the lad, coldly; “so if you don’t wish to -sell, we need not have any further talk.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Just wait a minute,” and the merchant -stayed the lad as he was about to leave. -“I will sell at sixteen <i>mon</i> a box if you -will buy up my whole stock.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Yes, the whole lot,” said Bunkichi. -“I will buy as many thousand boxes as I -can put into a large ship.” Thus he -bought up the whole stock of that store -and then went on to another, buying up -the whole stock of each at a very low price. -Then he sent a man to the orange farm -and collected some more. Having procured -a large stock, he put it all on board -the <i>Tenjin-maru</i> so that, albeit the ship -was one of a thousand <i>koku</i> burthen, its -keel sank deep into the water.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span> - <h2 class='c009'>CHAPTER VII<br /> <br /><span class='c016'>THE SEA-GIANT APPEARS</span></h2> -</div> -<div class='c017'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di-a.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -AS Captain Kichidayu sought -for sailors by holding out to -them promise of wages ten -times more than they could -get at other times, he soon picked up six -sturdy fellows who did not set much value -on their lives. Thereupon he reported -his success to Bunkichi, who was rejoiced -over it, and said: “Then all things are -ready now; we shall settle to start in the -morning, and I will send to the ship ten -pieces of long square timbers. You will -place them crosswise on the ship and attach -to their ends heavy stones so that -she will not upset easily,” he continued, -with his usual audacity and resourcefulness. -“For I have heard that ships which -sail about those far-off islands, Hachijo -<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>and Oshima, and the like, are fitted out in -this way and sail in safety even in heavy -storms. That is why in Yedo they call -those island-ships ‘sea-sparrows’: the -weight being on both sides of the ship, -they never upset.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Kichidayu was much struck by his keen -observation, and said: “Truly, it didn’t -occur to my mind that those ships are -fitted out as you say, but now I recollect -having seen them off the coast of Izu -Province. As they are thus constructed -they never capsize, however much they -are washed over by waves.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Now, Kichidayu San,” Bunkichi said, -“this ship is called the <i>Tenjin-maru</i>, but -our going out to sea this time may mean -going to her destruction, so let us change -her name into <i>Iurei-maru</i>, or ghost-ship, -and let us imagine ourselves to be dead -men by putting on white clothes. Thus -nothing that may occur can scare the -crew; for, being ‘dead’ men, they can -have no fear of death.”</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>The captain agreed with him, saying: -“That’s a splendid idea.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The captain returned to his abode in -high spirits and told to the six seamen -what the lad had said, and they all readily -agreed to the plan, and were so stirred by -the lad’s courage that they were ready to -face any dangers or fears that might come -to them.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi at once ordered a man to -paint on the sail of the ship: “<i>Iurei-maru</i>” -in large Chinese characters, and -at the cloth establishment of the Daikokuya, -he ordered eight suits of white -clothes.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Bunkichi,” inquired the astonished -master, “what is the use of those eight -suits of white?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi laughed as he answered: -“We may all be dead men before long, if -we go out to sea in this storm. The -chances of surviving are few, so we are -already dead in heart. I have named my -ship <i>Iurei-maru</i>. We are going to dress -<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>in white with the <i>zudabukuro</i><a id='r26' /><a href='#f26' class='c018'><sup>[26]</sup></a> and we -shall stick triangular-shaped papers on -our foreheads, as they do for the dead.”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f26'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r26'>26</a>. </span>The purse tied round the neck of the dead at a burial -service in Japan.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“What horrible things you do!” exclaimed -the wife, while the daughter, Chocho, -with sudden inspiration, said: “I -will sew your white suit for you.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I am most grateful,” replied the lad, -“but I have already ordered others to do -it for me.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Please let me do it,” said the girl. -“It may be the last—” and at this Bunkichi -consented with thanks.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master, who seemed to have prepared -beforehand, ordered <i>sake</i> and a set -of little dishes of eatables to be brought -forth, and then remarked: “As you have -settled to start to-morrow I intend to -offer you a congratulatory feast in advance, -hoping that you may arrive at -Yedo and have good luck and make a -great profit.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>At last the morrow came, and early in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>the morning Bunkichi bade farewell to the -men of the Daikokuya and put on his -white suit, which was made by the daughter -of the house, and went out to the seashore. -The master, as well as his wife, -with their daughter, Chocho, and all the -employees in the shop, followed him in -order to see him off. Having heard of his -departure, some of the townspeople with -whom he was acquainted, and those poor -people who had received his alms, flocked -together from the four corners of the -town to bid him good-by.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Having bade farewell to the people, -Bunkichi entered a small boat and soon -got on board of the <i>Iurei-maru</i>. Those -who came to see him off, as they stood -around the shore, raised their voices, calling -out for Bunkichi, lamenting his departure. -Bunkichi gave a signal for the -anchor to be weighed and the sail to be -hoisted; then the ship soon stood out to -sea. Both the men on the shore and those -on board the ship waved their hands till -their forms had become indiscernible, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>while the ship, driven by the strong west -wind, soon became lost to sight among -the big waves.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Though the <i>Iurei-maru</i> had her sail up -only seven tenths of its whole length, she -sailed on eastward with the speed of an -arrow, owing to the strong wind. In a -very short time she passed the Sea of Kumano, -and then soon was in the Sea of Isè. -As she came to the noted Yenshiu-nada -on the evening of that day, the wind grew -stronger and the rain came down in torrents. -As the huge waves, mountain-high, -came rushing from the far ocean -and the ship was tossed like a tree-leaf, -the crew felt as if they were flung down -into the abyss of darkness when she got -into the trough of the waves. Those six -robust men, who had hitherto worked -with steady and fearless courage, suddenly -gave in before this state of the sea -and lost all heart for labor. Nevertheless -Captain Kichidayu, as steady as ever, ran -about here and there, stirring the crew up -to their work.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>Among the eight men all told, the one -most unaffected by the dreadful state of -the sea was Bunkichi, the <i>Wanizame-Kozo</i>, -and he, with the captain, lent a -helping hand to the tired crew, calling out -occasionally: “Hurrah! This is fine! -We shall get to Yedo within the next day. -Work hard, all of you, and you sha’n’t -want for pay!” And then he doled out -money to the crew, who were encouraged -by this and braced themselves up and labored -their best.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Meanwhile night fell and the storm continued. -Though nothing was visible to -the eyes, the awful sound of the waves, -and the wind, which shook masts and rigging, -deafened the ears; and the heaven -and the earth seemed to be swallowed up -by the waters.</p> - -<p class='c011'>By degrees the crew’s courage began -again to fail and one of them muttered: -“This is just the sort of night for some -big monster like a <i>wanizame</i> to appear!” -To which another said: “Yes; I feel a bit -nervous, too.”</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>“Come, men; a little more perseverance!” -shouted out Bunkichi. So saying, -he again gave them an extra wage -and continued: “You fear the <i>wanizame</i>, -do you? I rather think the <i>wanizame</i> will -be afraid of me because I’m the <i>Wanizame-Kozo</i>. -Take heart, all of you! -Don’t be afraid!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The men were cheered up and said: -“Truly enough, you once killed the <i>wanizame</i>. -We needn’t be afraid! Now, all -right, sir; we’re rid of our fears!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>However, their courage was of but -short duration; when they gazed at the -dark, angry sea they again lost heart, -saying: “But, sir, what shall we do if the -<i>umi-bozu</i><a id='r27' /><a href='#f27' class='c018'><sup>[27]</sup></a> comes up—if it is true, as the -people say, the monster lives in this -ocean?”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f27'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r27'>27</a>. </span>An imaginary giant of the sea.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, as he gave them a scornful -smile, stood up with his dagger in his hand -and said: “I’ll sweep him down with this -sword if any such creature makes his appearance.”</p> - -<div id='i125' class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span> -<img src='images/i125.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“He drew his sword and ran toward the monster”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>Just then the man on watch suddenly -shrieked: “Ah! the sea-giant has come!” -And he ran back toward the stern while -the others were frightened out of their -wits and ran down into the cabin where -they drew their heads back between their -shoulders and held their breath in fear. -Bunkichi looked toward the bow. Sure -enough, a big undefined dark form rose -at the front of the ship, about ten feet in -height. He drew his sword and ran toward -the monster. As he swept the giant -down with his sharp weapon, he laughingly -returned toward Kichidayu, who -stood by the mast.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“What was that?” Kichidayu asked -Bunkichi, who answered, still smiling: -“It <i>did</i> look like a round-headed giant, -but really it was only a column of mist -which came floating in our way. That’s -what they call the ‘sea-giant,’ I suppose, -and in their fright they fancied it was -coming on board to seize them.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Kichidayu, who was much surprised at -Bunkichi’s courage, said: “Indeed! I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>understand now how you could kill the -<i>wanizame</i>, by the courage you have just -shown, and which I cannot but admire. -To speak the truth, I didn’t feel very -bold myself when I saw that big dark -form, but I screwed my courage up so as -not to be laughed at by you.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As the crew had not yet come out of -their cabin, Kichidayu called out: “Now, -men, come up; your master has killed the -giant. Come quick, quick!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The crew trooped out at this, and said: -“Truly we heard a shriek a little while -ago!” At which Kichidayu muttered, -“Fools!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>During the night, however, they got -over the Sea of Yenshiu in this manner, -and in the very early morning of the third -day they were entering the Bay of Yedo. -Gradually the sea was becoming much -smoother.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“We are safe, master. We can, too, be -quite at ease in our hearts!” said one of -the men. “Ah! I see the headland of -Haneda there. Beyond that there’s the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>Bay of Shinagawa. If we go forward at -this rate we shall be at Yedo by dawn: -I feel safe now. But I felt that I would -be eaten alive when I saw the <i>umi-bozu</i> -at the Yenshiu-nada Sea.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Then Bunkichi said, as he laughed: -“You don’t know what you are saying. -We have been all along dead men in white -suits, and for dead men to have been alive -is an absurdity!” Then all, for the first -time, burst out into merry, hearty laughter.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Captain Kichidayu turned to Bunkichi, -saying: “Master, what a voyage! In a -couple of days and nights we sailed the -distance which takes about ten days at -other times. That we have come here -safely through this storm is due to your -contrivance of laying the timbers crosswise -on the boat; but for that we should -certainly have capsized.” Then he turned -to the sailors and added: “What say you, -my men? Is there any one who could -beat him in wit or in courage?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No, there’s not another like him,” all -replied in one voice. “He killed the <i>wanizame</i> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>as well as the <i>umi-bozu</i>, and so long -as we are with him there is nothing on -earth to be dreaded. Please, sir, employ -us under you for years to come. We shall -never again play cowards as we did, sir!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi replied: “I fear you would -never face the <i>umi-bozu</i>.” To which they -could say nothing, but scratched their -heads in silence.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Though the wind was still high, after -the storm through which they had fought -their way out, the inland seas seemed to -them “as smooth as matting,” as the saying -is, and soon after dawn all hands on -board the <i>Iurei-maru</i> arrived safely at -Yedo.</p> - -<p class='c011'>At that time in Yedo the orange merchants, -in spite of the stress of weather, -had been eagerly awaiting orange-ships -from Kishu Province every day, on account -of the nearness of the bellows festival. -And this was the only ship that did -not disappoint their expectations. When -the ship’s arrival was known, the joy of -the merchants was beyond description, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>and soon this popular song immortalized -the happy welcome of the orange-ship:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c022'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>On the dark sea beholden</div> - <div class='line in2'>A sail, a white sail!</div> - <div class='line in2'>Whence does it hail?</div> - <div class='line'>From Kishu’s far shore</div> - <div class='line'>It brings precious store</div> - <div class='line'>Of oranges golden.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span> - <h2 class='c009'>CHAPTER VIII<br /> <br /><span class='c016'>AN ECCENTRIC FELLOW</span></h2> -</div> -<div class='c017'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di-w.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -WHEN all the wholesale dealers -in oranges in the vast city of -Yedo heard that an orange-ship -had at last arrived from -Kishu, they vied with one another in coming -to Bunkichi’s ship and buying up his -oranges. The inevitable result of the rise -in the price of oranges was to make him -a gainer of more than fifty thousand <i>rio</i>.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunkichi, after this, carefully reasoned -out that on account of the recent continuance -of the west wind no ship could possibly -have sailed from Yedo to Osaka, so -that there must be a scarcity of salted -salmon in that city, while there was now -an abundant and specially cheap supply -of them in Yedo. So he thought he would -<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>take a supply over to Osaka and make -another great profit.</p> - -<p class='c011'>When he spoke of this plan to his men -they were ready to go, for his sake. -Thereupon Bunkichi bought up a cargo -of salted salmon, and, putting it on board, -waited for the return of better weather. -Nor had he long to wait. As a reaction, -as it were, to the stormy westerly wind, -in a few days an east wind began to blow, -and, availing himself of the first opportunity, -he hoisted sail. He soon entered the -harbor of Osaka, and there he again made -a profit of tens of thousands of <i>rio</i>.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Every speculation he had planned was -crowned with success, and in little more -than a month he had amassed the enormous -sum of near upon a hundred thousand -<i>rio</i>. He was aided in this success -largely by the exertions of Kichidayu, -and gave him one thousand <i>rio</i> out of the -profit, while he handsomely rewarded -every one of the crew, who were all -greatly delighted at their good fortune.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Captain Kichidayu, taking his money -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>with him as a present to his family, returned -to Sakai, his native town, where -he met again his dear wife and children -after his long absence, and then went -back to Osaka. Thence he accompanied -Bunkichi to Kumano-Ura.</p> - -<p class='c011'>At Kumano the news of his safe arrival -at Yedo had been received at the Daikokuya -and by the townspeople with the -liveliest satisfaction. They had been -waiting eagerly for his return. Sure -enough, Bunkichi had come back on board -that very <i>Iurei-maru</i>, and the people, -whether they were personally known to -him or not, flocked round him with their -congratulations.</p> - -<p class='c011'>From that day the master of the Daikokuya -treated him as his guest, while -the people of the town respected him as a -gentleman, and no one called him the -Wanizame-Kozo any more.</p> - -<p class='c011'>On his arrival home Bunkichi recounted -all his transactions to the master of the -Daikokuya, and then went at once to the -merchants from whom he had bought the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>fruit that he sold in Yedo. “I thank you -for the cargo of oranges you sold me some -time ago at such a cheap price,” said he. -“I made a great profit by that cargo, but -I don’t like to be only a gainer myself -while you all are losing your money, so -I’ll give you double what I then paid you -for the oranges.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>On account of this unexpected liberality -they were very grateful to him, and his -fame went abroad all over the province of -Kii, and everybody began to know him, -and whenever he wanted to invest in any -goods, he had no difficulty in getting all he -wished.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The day came at last when Bunkichi -determined to go up to the great city of -Yedo to make his name famous in the -whole of Japan by trading on a large scale. -With this resolve, he negotiated with some -of the big merchants of Kumano as to -whether they would make a contract with -him to send up all their oranges and timber -to his shop as their only agency in -Yedo. As they were already under a debt -<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>of obligation to him, every one of them -agreed to do his best to keep Bunkichi’s -store in Yedo well supplied. Bunkichi was -greatly rejoiced, and, on this occasion traveling -overland, he arrived at Yedo in due -time and established himself in the Hatcho-bori -district, under the name of Kinokuniya.<a id='r28' /><a href='#f28' class='c018'><sup>[28]</sup></a> -This happened in the second year of -the Sho-o era (1653 <span class='fss'>A.D.</span>), when he was -nineteen years of age. Then he changed -his name Bunkichi into Bunzayemon (his -father’s name), and began to trade on a -large scale in timber and oranges from -Kishu, selling them to the whole city of -Yedo. Thus his prosperity increased.</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f28'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r28'>28</a>. </span>House of the Kino Kuni (country of Kii).</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>One day a master carpenter, who had -the entrée to the house, came to see Bunzayemon, -saying: “I have come to consult -with you on a rather strange matter. How -would you like to engage a man for your -business?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Well, it all depends on what kind of a -man he is,” was the reply.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“He is rather an eccentric sort of fellow. -If I tell you plainly about him there -<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>will be little chance of your employing -him; but the strange thing is that he -wishes me to do so. ‘If Bunzayemon will -employ me, good; if he will not employ me, -he is a fool, and I don’t want to be employed.’ -Those were the very words he -said to me, and added, to my surprise: -‘As for you, if he hasn’t the sense to engage -me, you needn’t regret losing such a -customer as he is.’”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I don’t wonder you were surprised,” -replied Bunzayemon; “but what has he -been hitherto?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>To this question the carpenter replied: -“He is the second son in a warrior family; -but as far as I can see he is an idle, lazy -man. There are many of his kind in the -world, as you know; but he is rather an -extreme type of the class. He doesn’t -like to get up early nor to move about at -any time. In spite of his being dependent -on me for his support, he doesn’t hesitate -to demand to live in luxury. And then he -has the impudence to request me to recommend -him to you.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunzayemon meditated awhile and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>then said: “It’s rather interesting, what -you tell me. At all events, bring him -here.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Do you really mean to engage him? -You had better give him up.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>To which the merchant replied: “When -I see him I shall decide whether I shall -engage him or not. Bring him here -first!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Then Seihachi, the carpenter, went -home, fearing inwardly lest he should lose -his customer by bringing this man to Bunzayemon’s -notice, though he could not help -acceding to the man’s request.</p> - -<p class='c011'>After a time Bunzayemon heard high -words in the front of the shop. One of -the voices he recognized as that of Seihachi, -who was exclaiming: “Chobei San, -you ought not to go in by the front door; -manners should compel you to go to the -back door. And don’t give yourself airs -here; if you do I shall be disgraced.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>To this the other replied: “What are -you talking about? We are not dogs; why -should we go round to the kitchen?” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>And so saying, the young man stalked up -to the shop called Kinokuniya, in spite of -Seihachi’s remonstrance, and asked somewhat -loudly: “Is the master at home?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Hearing him, Bunzayemon entered the -shop from the inner room.</p> - -<p class='c011'>No sooner did Seihachi see him than he -began to apologize: “Master, I am more -sorry than I can tell you, and I beg your -pardon for this fellow’s rudeness.” As -he spoke he was holding Chobei by the -sleeve.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunzayemon, without heeding the -apology, civilly welcomed the strange -guest, saying: “Come in, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The young man stalked into the inner -room, while Seihachi, feeling like a fish -out of water, followed him. Bunzayemon -ushered the guests into one of the finest -rooms in his house. Seihachi was troubled -at heart, for the man’s clothes were -muddy, and said: “Sir, I fear we shall -soil your floor.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Without even listening to Seihachi’s -words, or showing that he had heard -<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>them, the host courteously said: “I am -Bunzayemon of the Kinokuniya; and what -is your name?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“My name is Chobei,” answered the -youth somewhat haughtily.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I’m glad to make your acquaintance.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Seihachi kept making signs to Chobei -as to his behavior, but the latter did not -take the least notice.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Seihachi in his distress said to Bunzayemon: -“Please, sir, I beg your pardon -for his unmannerly behavior. I think he -must be a little out of his mind. I’m -sorry to have brought such a fellow.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Meanwhile Bunzayemon and Chobei sat -with the <i>tabakobon</i><a id='r29' /><a href='#f29' class='c018'><sup>[29]</sup></a> between them and -looked into each other’s face. For a -while neither of them spoke, while Seihachi, -whose trouble of mind was increased -by this state of affairs, tried to extricate -himself from this uncomfortable position -and said:</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f29'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r29'>29</a>. </span>A tobacco-tray.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“Chobei San, we had better take our -leave now.” Then, turning to the host, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>“Sir, you won’t engage him after all, will -you, sir?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>At this Bunzayemon, speaking somewhat -loudly, said: “Oh, yes, I’ll engage -you, Chobei San, and take you on as one -of my men, if that is your wish.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Then do you really engage me?” -And as he spoke Chobei quickly moved -backward a little and bowed to the floor, -in the act of showing respect and thanks -to his superior.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunzayemon then put on a lordly air -and asked him: “Chobei, are you skilled in -working the abacus?”<a id='r30' /><a href='#f30' class='c018'><sup>[30]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f30'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r30'>30</a>. </span>The Chinese reckoning-board, consisting of beads or balls -strung on wires or rods set in a frame.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“I don’t know much about it,” he replied, -as he placed both his hands on the -matting in the attitude of respect, “because -I was bred in a warrior family.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“If that is so you’ll be of no use in the -shop,” said the master, scornfully. “What -can you do, then?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>To which Chobei answered, “I know -how to turn a lot of money, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>“That’s interesting!” replied the master.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The carpenter, stricken dumb with astonishment -while the negotiation was going -on, said at last, when Chobei had gone, -“Sir, have you really engaged him? I -can’t tell you how relieved I am. I’ve -been greatly troubled by the thought that -I should be disgraced on account of him. -Please tell me why were you so civil to him -at first?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“You don’t understand, I see,” said -Bunzayemon, laughing. “Before I engaged -him he was my guest, and as he -belongs to the warrior class, his social -rank is entitled to consideration. But -when I have once engaged him, then I am -his master, and he is my servant, and I -must treat him accordingly.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I see, I see,” said the carpenter. -“That is a fine way of looking at it. Well, -then, suppose I go to another man’s house, -I may act in a like haughty manner myself -before I get engaged!”</p> - -<div id='i143' class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/i143.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“Bunzayemon then put on a lordly air”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“Certainly; but if you do, you may get -<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>disliked instead of engaged”; at which reply -the carpenter was profoundly puzzled.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Early the next day the new employee -begged his master to advance him some -pocket money, which was promptly given -him; and having got it, off he went, no -one knew whither, and did not return even -for the midday meal.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Then the other employees warned their -master, saying: “Sir, what is the use of -that sort of man? We don’t know where -he has come from. It’s really unsafe to -have that sort of fellow about the house, -sir.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>But the master paid no heed to their -warnings. “Not a bit of it! No matter -where his birthplace is, so long as the man -is worth having, my purpose is served. I -can see he has plenty of common sense, -and I’ll warrant he’ll be of good service -some day. Whenever you plan on a large -scale you must have good assistants: there -were four kindly men under Yoshisune, -the great general, and twenty-eight generals -under Shingen, the great lord of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>middle ages. Such men we look to for our -examples. Since the days of old every distinguished -man has attached to himself -able supporters. Merchants should do the -same, and, as certain as the day dawns, -success will come to the business man who -employs many good hands under him. -Wait and see. Chobei will do some noteworthy -things!” Thus he instructed his -servants in his principles.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Toward the evening of that day Chobei -came back, but with a downcast countenance. -Bunzayemon did not ask where he -had been, nor did Chobei volunteer any information. -The next day again, and the -next, he asked for more money, and went -out early in the morning, coming back late -at night. He continued in this way for -about half a month. The others once more -warned their master, but he still refused -to listen to them.</p> - -<p class='c011'>One day Chobei came to his master and -said: “Sir, you import a lot of timber -from Kii Province and try to sell it at once -among the people of this city. But Yedo -<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>is a place where fires are so frequent that, -if you buy up a lot of timber at a time when -the price is low and keep it, it’s certain -you will make a great profit when some -big fire occurs. But to find a good place -for keeping timber,” he went on, “is one -of the chief difficulties, because, as you are -well aware, if you keep it near at hand, in -the heart of the city, there’s danger of its -being destroyed by fire, and if you keep it -in a river or the sea, either it rots or is eaten -by worms. Now, every day I have been -going about looking for a good place to -keep it, and at last I have found one at -Kiba in Fukagawa. Keep timber in the -water of that place, and, on account of the -quality of the water, worms will not eat it, -but the wood will become shiny and improve -by keeping. Besides, no danger will -come to it from fire.” And he concluded -his far-sighted plan with, “For these reasons, -I hope you will soon construct a reservoir -for timber in that place.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The master clapped his hands in admiration -and joy, saying: “Upon my word, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>that’s a capital idea! I thought you must -have been planning something, but I never -thought you were looking out for a place -to keep timber. I myself had turned the -matter over in my mind some time ago, -but on account of my many other duties I -hadn’t the time to see to it myself, and I -thank you for undertaking it for me.” -And then and there he intrusted the building -of the timber reservoir to Chobei.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Chobei lost no time in going to Fukagawa -and buying ten thousand <i>tsubo</i>, or -about forty thousand square yards, of -ground near the temple of Susaki. He -built a large reservoir there and removed -to it all the timber imported by his master -from Kii Province. Besides, Chobei got -his master’s permission to send out men to -the neighboring mountains to buy up timber -where it could be got cheap, and having -deposited it all at Fukagawa, waited -contentedly for the time to sell.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span> - <h2 class='c009'>CHAPTER IX<br /> <br /><span class='c016'>THE GREAT CONFLAGRATION—THE CHARITY “BENTO”</span></h2> -</div> -<div class='c017'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di-i.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -IT was on the 18th of January -in the third year of the Meireki -era (1657 <span class='fss'>A.D.</span>) that a -bitterly cold north wind, much -colder than usual, was blowing hard. As -the wind increased in strength, the foot-passengers, -even in the busy streets, became -fewer. From the hour of <i>ne</i>, or the -snake, which is the same as ten o’clock -<span class='fss'>A.M.</span> in our modern reckoning, it had become -a regular hurricane, raising clouds -of dust and even whirling pebbles into the -air. It seemed as if the heavens and the -earth were creaking and shaking under -the rage of it. At this juncture the people -of the city were alarmed by the repeated -<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>hasty ringing of several fire-bells in the -direction of the Hongo district, the northern -part of the city. Everybody went up -to his fire-lookout and saw the ominous -black smoke rising in the shape of a vast -eddying cloud over the part of the city -called Maruyama in Hongo.<a id='r31' /><a href='#f31' class='c018'><sup>[31]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f31'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r31'>31</a>. </span>Hongo precinct of the Maruyama Mountain.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>It happened that, a few days before, Bunzayemon, -with five or six young men and -a plentiful supply of money, had gone into -the mountains of the neighboring country -to buy lumber, leaving the management of -his affairs, in his absence, entirely to Chobei -San.</p> - -<p class='c011'>So when Chobei hurried up to the lookout -to ascertain where it was that the fire -had broken out, he glanced up to the heavens -and said to himself: “From the appearance -of the sky this wind will not fall -for some time, and in all probability the -whole city will be burned down, because -the houses are quite dried up by the continued -fine weather we have been having -lately. This is the time to save many people, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>and it is also a very good time to make -a great deal of profit!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Saying this, Chobei made for the shop -and issued orders in excited haste to the -men. “Now, you men must form yourselves -into two bands: one to go straight -to Fukagawa and get a huge iron pot and -a quantity of rice to be boiled, and make -preparations for a charity lunch for the -poor; the other to stay here and put together -all the goods in the shop that we -may transfer them without loss of time -to Fukagawa.” Though the men complained -against his hasty decision to retreat -before the distant fire, they could not -resist the order of the chief man in the shop, -so they reluctantly began to pack up the -goods in preparation for departure, though -they thought it would only prove necessary -in the end to brush the dust and soot from -off them. Seeing how they were employed, -the neighbors, too, jeered at the hurry they -were in; but consternation soon spread -even among these neighbors when the -sparks, carried and fanned by the wind, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>had started fresh fires—one at Kanda<a id='r32' /><a href='#f32' class='c018'><sup>[32]</sup></a> -and another at Nihonbashi, the business -part of the city.</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f32'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r32'>32</a>. </span>A precinct of Yedo.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>By this time Chobei had already closed -the shop and sent off some valuables and -some furniture on carts to Fukagawa, escorted -by the men of the shop, while he -had all the timber floated down the river -to the same place, to be put with the other -timber which had already been stored -there. Chobei was much delighted to find -that all the preparations for the charity -luncheon for the destitute had been carried -out by those who had gone before them. -“For our first work is the saving of the -people,” he exclaimed.</p> - -<p class='c011'>So saying, he engaged a few coolies to -assist the men in boiling the rice and so -forth. Having wrapped the boiled rice in -broad bamboo leaves, together with pickled -<i>daikon</i>,<a id='r33' /><a href='#f33' class='c018'><sup>[33]</sup></a> he contrived a luncheon for -many thousands of the poor in no time.</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f33'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r33'>33</a>. </span>Large white radishes.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The stronger the wind grew the farther -<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>the fire spread: it devastated the city -with such rapidity that noontide of that -day saw even the districts of Hachobori -and Shiba reduced to heaps of smoldering -ashes. Those who were burned out had -not had time to put away their furniture, -but only escaped with their lives, and -were seeking in vain to find shelter in the -houses of their relatives, who had suffered -a like fate with them and could not assist -them. Not knowing where to turn, they -wandered about in terror the whole day, -and their misery was such that they -could not even get themselves food.</p> - -<p class='c011'>While this was the state of things, a -band of coolies came among them with a -rectangular bamboo basket with <i>bento</i><a id='r34' /><a href='#f34' class='c018'><sup>[34]</sup></a> in -it, and one of them held aloft a paper flag -with huge characters on it, which read -as follows: “Kinokuniya Bunzayemon’s -Charity Luncheon!”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f34'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r34'>34</a>. </span>Luncheon.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>The coolies distributed this <i>bento</i> -among the men and women who were in -distress. Every man and woman, therefore, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>whether young or old, who was sore -oppressed by hunger, was glad to get hold -of this food and was relieved by it, though -it was only for a time. With admirable -sagacity Chobei quickly hired many more -coolies and prepared more luncheons, -sending them to every quarter of the city; -and so wherever men went they saw the -selfsame flag flying for charity, and the -whole city was surprised, and praised the -generosity of this Kinokuniya Bunzayemon.</p> - -<p class='c011'>In this great fire even those large palaces -of the <i>daimios</i>,<a id='r35' /><a href='#f35' class='c018'><sup>[35]</sup></a> which stood in the -line of the fire and which could in ordinary -days call up many hands to keep the fire -off, were not able to escape from the disaster. -Even the nobles of high rank and -their retainers knew not where to find -shelter, but stood bewildered in the corners -of their big gardens and waited for help, -but in vain. For such personages Chobei -ordered men to prepare <i>bento</i> in nice packages -of <i>sasaori</i><a id='r36' /><a href='#f36' class='c018'><sup>[36]</sup></a> and to present it to those -<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>nobles and their households in the name -of Kinokuniya Bunzayemon. In consequence, -even the servants of these nobles -were grateful to the coolies, and received -the presents on behalf of their masters.</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f35'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r35'>35</a>. </span>Feudal lords, or the nobility of Japan.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f36'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r36'>36</a>. </span>Boxes made with bamboo leaves.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Then, too, Chobei ordered the men of -Kinokuniya to put up wooden inclosures -round about the grounds of those nobles -to protect them from robbery or trespass.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The fire raged through the whole night -of the 18th and through the whole of the -next day, so Chobei engaged yet more -coolies, and ordered them to make more -charity <i>bento</i> for the relief of the poor.</p> - -<p class='c011'>There was a certain man named Kamada -Matahachi, who was well known for -his physical strength. He had always kept -a large portable closet, about six feet by -three, and five feet seven inches in height, -in which to carry his furniture in case of -fire. When he thought his house was in -danger, he put all his belongings into this -box, placed a sheet of matting on the top, -and carried all these on his back by the -means of a rope specially prepared for the -purpose. Carrying a long, heavy stick in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>his hand, he walked unconcernedly and -steadily among the crowd like an elephant -among dogs. Every one marveled at his -size and strength, and was forced to make -room for him to go by. When he came to -Fukagawa to escape from the fire, he saw -there a large sign which read:</p> - -<p class='c023'>Day laborers are wanted for carrying the -charity <i>bento</i>. Let all who wish to be engaged -call at the timber reservoir of Kinokuniya Bunzayemon -at Fukagawa. Three meals will be -given, and one <i>kwan mon</i><a id='r37' /><a href='#f37' class='c018'><sup>[37]</sup></a> will be paid daily -for wages.</p> - -<div class='footnote c024' id='f37'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r37'>37</a>. </span>A sum about equal to one dollar.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>As he had nowhere to go at the time, -he was glad to find some work. He -went to the timber reservoir of Bunzayemon, -where he found a bustle and hurry -of men and women, hundreds in number, -for the preparation of luncheon. Some -were preparing a quantity of rice in large -iron pots, others were cutting up some -pickles, while a third set of men were -wrapping these up in bamboo leaves.</p> - -<div id='i157' class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span> -<img src='images/i157.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>Matahachi in the great fire at Yedo</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>Many bands of coolies with their paper -flags were carrying out the luncheons in -the baskets, while others were coming -back with empty ones.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Matahachi, with that big closet on his -back, drew near to the place and thundered -out: “Is this the place where hands are -wanted?” The people turned, and without -giving any answer simply looked at -one another in astonishment at his curious -appearance.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Once more he called out: “I’m one -Kamada Matahachi; I come to assist your -charity work for the rescue of the people.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The voice apparently penetrated even to -the inner room, for Chobei came out and -was also surprised by the man’s appearance, -but said: “Nothing can be more fortunate -for us than to have the assistance -of Mr. Matahachi, who is noted in the -whole of Yedo for his physical strength. -Please help us in our work by distributing -the <i>bento</i> in this big, light-wood chest.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>With ready acquiescence Matahachi -laid aside the heavy baggage on his back. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>“This is my furniture,” he said; “please -keep it for me.” The rattling sound of -iron and china in the chest made those -near by wonder at the forethought with -which he had made provision against the -contingency of a fire, and by which he -had been enabled to move away at once -with all his household goods.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Having safely stowed away his possessions, -Matahachi lifted the big wooden -chest, now packed with <i>bento</i>, and by -means of a rope put it on his back, and, -holding the big pole of hard oak-wood -in his right hand and the paper flag in his -left, started forth to the scene of ruin, with -one coolie to assist him.</p> - -<p class='c011'>As he called out in a loud, deep tone of -voice to announce the charity, the people -turned to him in astonishment and soon -came flocking around him. The attendant -coolie, standing behind, distributed -the <i>bento</i> from the chest on Matahachi’s -back with no inconvenience. So these two -finished their task in less time than it -would have taken five or six men to do -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>it with ordinary methods. On their way -back to Kinokuniya, when they came to -a crowded place Matahachi put forth his -staff, and by pushing the crowd to one side -made his way through without any hindrance.</p> - -<p class='c011'>In one of those crowded places he heard -the shrieking cry of a girl. Forcing his -way to the spot, he found a girl of twelve -or thirteen years of age who could not get -up on account of being trodden down by -the crowd. Being naturally of a chivalrous -character, he soon helped the girl up -and asked whether she had not her parents -with her.</p> - -<p class='c011'>She sobbed, and said: “We all ran -away when the fire broke out, and I became -separated from my parents!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>As he could not leave her there, he said: -“That cannot be helped. If you wander -about here you may be trampled to death. -I will take you to a better place if you will -get into my empty chest.” So the coolie -helped her in, and they hastened on to Fukagawa.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>At another time he saw an old woman -of about threescore years, half dead, lying -by the wayside with her dress partly -burned. He felt he could not leave her -behind in such a state, so she, too, was put -into the bamboo basket by the side of the -girl.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Having got back to Fukagawa, he said -to Chobei: “I rescued these two on the -way home. Give them the treatment which -is suited to their need.” He handed them -over to the acting master, who thanked -Matahachi, and thus addressed the other -bands of coolies: “To give away the -<i>bento</i> alone does not cover the whole work -of charity; whenever any of you are -coming back with empty chests, you, too, -had better bring people home, if such help -is needed as these two received.” And a -cordial reception was given to the old woman -as well as to the young girl.</p> - -<p class='c011'>During such a fire there were naturally -many lost children and aged persons who -might have been trodden down under foot. -Having understood Chobei’s instructions, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>the other bands from that time were sure -to bring back two or three who needed -help. To any who were thus brought in -Chobei gave proper treatment, and as he -gave the coolies prizes they worked with -great zeal and diligence. Kamada Matahachi -went in and out of the fire ruins -many times a day and repeated the same -charitable work. The five or six hundred -coolies did their best, also, and, in consequence, -at the reservoir there was a continuous -trooping out with the <i>bento</i> and -trooping in of the people; and by the night -of the 19th there were 2800 rescued persons, -old and young, all told, who had -been brought to this temporary shelter.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Even on the night of the 19th there was -no sign of the abating of the fire. The -strong northwest wind was still raging, -and within two days, the Hongo, Kanda, -Nihonbashi, Kyobashi, and Shiba districts -were all swept by the fire. And now the -fire was burning down Takanawa with -such terrific force that the very sea-line -seemed to recede before it. But that night -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>the wind suddenly changed to the south-east, -and the fire turned backward and -licked up all the houses on both sides of the -great river Sumida and those that had survived -at first in Asakusa and round about -Yushima. Then at last it was got under -control near to Senju about noonday on the -20th. And since the morning of the 18th, -within three days and two nights, the -whole city of Yedo had been reduced to -ashes and as many as 108,000 people were -lost. It was one of the most terrible of -fires.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Indeed, such a disastrous fire had never -before and has never since occurred in -Yedo, and even now it is sadly referred to -by the people as the “Furisode-Kwaji”—the -long-sleeved fire—quite as often as it -is called the great fire of Hongo-Maruyama.</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span> - <h2 class='c009'>CHAPTER X<br /> <br /><span class='c016'>AMBITION SATISFIED—THE MERCHANT PRINCE</span></h2> -</div> -<div class='c017'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/di-k.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi1_1'> -KINOKUNIYA BUNZAYEMON, -who unknowingly had -left such a big fire behind him -and sought the mountainous -districts of the neighboring provinces as -his field of action, went over to Sagami -Province the same day, and negotiated -with the chief owners of forests there and -made a contract with them, paying them -guaranty money in advance. The next day -he crossed over to Awa Province and visited -in turn the owners of mountain forests -in Kazusa, Shimo-osa, and Musashi, and -struck bargains with them to buy all their -salable timber. Four or five days only -were occupied in these rapid negotiations, -at the end of which time, as the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>rumor of the big fire of Yedo had got -abroad to these neighboring provinces, -Kibun hastened on his way back to -Yedo. As he was passing amidst the -smoldering ruins on the way to his depot -at Fukagawa, he continually heard the -people talking of himself. Every time he -stopped and listened. “Well, Genbei San, -Kinokuniva Bunzayemon is a fine fellow, -isn’t he? One would think he had foreseen -the fire and prepared that enormous -amount of <i>bento</i> beforehand; otherwise -he could not possibly have given it out to -the people so readily. I and others had nowhere -to find food, so we supported ourselves -for three days on that <i>bento</i>.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Is that so, Hachibei San? I also received -it every day. For three days, -wherever one went among the ruins one -was met with his charity. It’s said that -within three days no less than two thousand -<i>koku</i><a id='r38' /><a href='#f38' class='c018'><sup>[38]</sup></a> of rice were given away. -Had it not been for that charity nearly -the whole population of the city would -<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>have famished. Moreover, Genbei San, -the charity was extended even to the mansions -of many <i>daimios</i>, and the nobles and -their families ate of his <i>bento</i>.”</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f38'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r38'>38</a>. </span>Ten thousand bushels.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“To be sure. Even the nobles with -their heaps of gold and all their power -couldn’t buy a single grain in the general -consternation! Really that Kibun, whoever -he may be, is a sagacious fellow!” -Thus the men talked who had received his -alms.</p> - -<p class='c011'>While Bunzayemon, who listened to this -current talk, was inwardly rejoicing that -Chobei had managed his affairs so admirably, -he passed two women who were -talking.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Oh, Haru San, when I lost sight of -my child in the crowd,” one of them was -saying, “I became almost mad in my -search for her; but as I could not find her -in the hurry and bustle, I gave her up for -being trodden to death or else for being -suffocated in the heat. In my grief I lost -all care for my own life. But then I heard -the people say that some thousands of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>strayed children had been taken to Kibun’s -country place at Fukagawa. I ran there -at once, and lo! I found my little girl there -among the children. My joy, of course, -knew no bounds. Let people say what they -wish, Kibun must be a merciful man; in -such a fire as this naturally there are a lot -of strayed children, and therefore he sent -out his men to every quarter of the city, -ordering them to bring such to his house. -In three days a thousand or more people -were rescued, they say. Henceforth I will -always have a niche for Kibun Sama in my -heart.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“I will, too. Your case was not so bad -as mine. For my part, when I lost sight of -my mother, no words could express my -anxiety. If she had been in sound health, I -would have felt a little easier, but she has -been laid up since last winter on account of -her great age. At first we thought we were -safe from the conflagration, as the fire -had passed by us toward Takanawa; but -then by the change of wind the sparks -started the fire afresh at the very next door -<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>to our own. The men belonging to the -house had gone to Takanawa to help a -relative of ours there, and I thought it -would be a shame to me if by my indecision -the fire should cause the death of my -mother; so, holding mother’s hand, I -dragged her from the house.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“After two or three <i>chos’</i><a id='r39' /><a href='#f39' class='c018'><sup>[39]</sup></a> run, mother -was out of breath and consequently -couldn’t walk a step farther. I put her on -my back and ran on, but we were both soon -suffocated by the smoke, and then I tumbled -down. I couldn’t get up for some -time because other people who were running -to escape from the flames trod on me.</p> - -<div class='footnote c019' id='f39'> -<p class='c020'><span class='label'><a href='#r39'>39</a>. </span>One <i>cho</i> equals about one hundred and twenty yards.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“In another minute the sparks set fire -to my dress and my whole body was nearly -burned. However, I braced myself up -and got on my feet, being very anxious -about my mother. I looked round, and she -was not there. I knew she couldn’t possibly -have run away, owing to her helplessness; -so I looked around me, being -sure she must be either in a ditch or stupefied -<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>by the smoke. The fire, however, -was too quick for me. I couldn’t stay to -make further search, so I ran away. I -have been weeping since at the thought -of mother’s death, when yesterday I heard -a report that mother was safe at Fukagawa. -I flew to the place and met her. -When I asked how she had got there she -told me that she had been rescued by the -coolies of a certain Kibun, and after being -brought there had received the most kind -treatment. Henceforth I’ll not sleep with -my feet toward Fukagawa.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Hearing this, Bunzayemon was further -struck by the excellent management of -Chobei. On his way home through the -desolation and ruin he also passed by many -of the <i>daimios’</i> palace-grounds, when he -saw his own trade-mark on all the boardings -put up as temporary inclosures.</p> - -<p class='c011'>As he was wondering at this new proof -of Chobei’s energy and wisdom, two <i>samurai</i>, -or retainers, came by talking.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Look, my friend! The inclosure of -this mansion, too, seems to have been put -<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>up by Kibun’s people. The man is wonderfully -ready for everything! And no -doubt the fact that he has put up the temporary -inclosure means that the rebuilding -will be put into his hands, and no better -man could probably be found.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“You are right. If we employ him he’s -certain to lose no time about it.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunzayemon, who overheard this conversation, -clapped his hands in admiration, -and, turning to his attendants, said: -“How now, my fellows! You didn’t -think much of Chobei at first, did you? -Well, what do you think of him now?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The attendants looked at one another -and said: “Really, he is very clever—even -more clever than you, sir! Yes, unless a -man employs some men cleverer than himself -he can never become great!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>With unbounded joy Bunzayemon soon -arrived at his depot at Fukagawa. No -sooner did he catch sight of Chobei than -he held out his hand to him, saying: “Ah! -I have no words in which to express my -thanks to you. I have been hearing from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>the chance talk of the people on my way -home of all you have been doing in my absence, -and have been much struck by your -sagacity. Indeed, I have never felt so -much joy as I experience to-day!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunzayemon, who was not accustomed -to show joy or sorrow in his face, could -not suppress his emotion on that day.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Almost all the houses in the city of Yedo -were destroyed by the fire. Warriors and -merchants had to build their abodes -afresh, and because all the timber in the -city was reduced to ashes, the price at once -went up tenfold. Now Kibun alone, at -this juncture, had already a great stock -of timber on hand at his depot at Fukagawa, -and he had fresh supplies constantly -being sent in from the mountains in the -near-by country, being the timber he had -lately bought. The profit which he -gained by selling all this material was -something enormous.</p> - -<div id='i173' class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span> -<img src='images/i173.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic002'> -<p>“‘I have no words in which to express my thanks to you’”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Moreover, on account of his alms and -the inclosures he had put up for various -great feudal lords, they too became his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>customers and asked him to rebuild their -mansions. By these orders he again made -a great profit. He ascribed this good fortune -entirely to Chobei, to whom he gave -a great sum of money as a token of -appreciation of his services. Besides, he -handsomely rewarded the other men and -boys in his employ.</p> - -<p class='c011'>He also sent for that chief carpenter, -Seihachi.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Well, Seihachi, this is the prize which -I give you.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Thus saying, he put a box which contained -one thousand <i>rio</i> in front of him.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The other was frightened out of his -wits.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Oh! do you say there’s a gift of a -thousand <i>rio</i> for me in this packet? Isn’t -it empty?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No, it’s not empty. Lift it and see.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Whereupon Seihachi tried to lift it and -said: “Truly, it’s too heavy; I can’t lift -it! Isn’t this a dream?” said he, as he -pinched his knee.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunzayemon laughed. “It is not a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>dream. It’s a reward to you, sure and -certain, and you had better take it home -with you.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Really, I thank you, sir. In the time -of the fire I carried charity <i>bento</i> only -three times, for I was working at other -things; therefore I’m not worthy of so -great a reward!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“It isn’t a reward for that.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Then for the inclosure which I did for -Sendai Sama, the <i>daimio</i>; for that work -my assistants came late, so I couldn’t finish -it till late in the evening. The work -ought to have been finished much earlier.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“It isn’t for that.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Not for that, either? For what is it, -then, sir?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunzayemon pointed to Chobei, who -was then in the shop, and said: “You -brought me that excellent article, there. -It’s for that.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>The carpenter misunderstood him and -said: “Is that so? I see, for that article. -That’s an article rarely found, and I -thought it would be a great loss if it was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>burnt, so before other things I sent it -down on a raft from Hachobori to Fukagawa. -Then on the way it collided with a -ship and the raft was nearly broken to -pieces.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“What are you talking about?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“You mean that hinoki plank, do you -not, of eight inches both in breadth and -thickness?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“No; you don’t understand me, yet. It -is your prize for bringing Chobei to me.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“You mean Chobei San. Ah, I see, I -see! I did not understand you. I wondered -why you gave me such a handsome -reward. But Chobei San has certainly -proved to be an excellent man. I thought -he was a hopeless fellow. Shall I bring -you another Chobei San? I have a lot -more.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“What sort of Chobei is he?”</p> - -<p class='c011'>“The next idlest fellow who depends -on me for support.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>Bunzayemon laughed, saying, “No, -thank you; I don’t want another Chobei -of that kind.”</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>In this wise, Bunzayemon, by the help -of Chobei, undertook various important -schemes and accumulated great wealth. -Thus in time his fame had sounded -through the whole of Japan and he had -built a big establishment at Honhachobori,—a -street in Tokio, near the heart of the -city,—which covered one <i>cho</i> square. Always -strenuously pushing forward his -business, he at last, as had been his ambition, -became the leading merchant in the -whole of Japan. As the old verse says:</p> -<div class='lg-container-b c025'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>The heavy gourd from slender stem takes birth,</div> - <div class='line'>From strenuous will spring deeds of weighty worth.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c007' /> -</div> -<p class='c011'> </p> -<div class='tnbox'> - - <ul class='ul_1 c007'> - <li>Transcriber’s Notes: - <ul class='ul_2'> - <li>Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected. - </li> - <li>Typographical errors were silently corrected. - </li> - <li>Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only when a predominant - form was found in this book. - </li> - </ul> - </li> - </ul> - -</div> -<p class='c011'> </p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KIBUN DAIZIN ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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