motos._ The Hatamotos were the feudatory nobles of
the Shogun or Tycoon. The office of Taikun having been abolished, the
Hatamotos no longer exist. For further information respecting them,
see the note at the end of the story.]

So the old woman persuaded her son to make his escape, and sent him to
the palace of Shirogoro.

Now it happened that at this time the Hatamotos had formed themselves
into a league against the powerful Daimios; and Abe Shirogoro, with
two other noblemen, named Kondo Noborinosuke and Midzuno Jiurozayemon,
was at the head of the league. It followed, as a matter of course,
that his forces were frequently recruited by vicious men, who had no
means of gaining their living, and whom he received and entreated
kindly without asking any questions as to their antecedents; how much
the more then, on being applied to for an asylum by the son of his own
foster-mother, did he willingly extend his patronage to him, and
guarantee him against all danger. So he called a meeting of the
principal Hatamotos, and introduced Matagoro to them, saying--"This
man is a retainer of Ikeda Kunaishoyu, who, having cause of hatred
against a man named Watanabe Yukiye, has slain him, and has fled to me
for protection; this man's mother suckled me when I was an infant,
and, right or wrong, I will befriend him. If, therefore, Ikeda
Kunaishoyu should send to require me to deliver him up, I trust that
you will one and all put forth your strength and help me to defend
him."

"Ay! that will we, with pleasure!" replied Kondo Noborinosuke. "We
have for some time had cause to complain of the scorn with which the
Daimios have treated us. Let Ikeda Kunaishoyu send to claim this man,
and we will show him the power of the Hatamotos."

All the other Hatamotos, with one accord, applauded this
determination, and made ready their force for an armed resistance,
should my Lord Kunaishoyu send to demand the surrender of Matugoro.
But the latter remained as a welcome guest in the house of Abe
Shirogoro.

[Illustration: MATAGORO KILLS YUKIYE.]

Now when Watanabe Kazuma saw that, as the night advanced, his father
Yukiye did not return home, he became anxious, and went to the house
of Matagoro to seek for him, and finding to his horror that he was
murdered, fell upon the corpse and, embraced it, weeping. On a sudden,
it flashed across him that this must assuredly be the handiwork of
Matagoro; so he rushed furiously into the house, determined to