out his desire within the period allowed for
that purpose, it is forbidden that the chastisement of an enemy be
attended with riot.

"Fellows who neglect to give notice of their intended revenge are like
wolves of pretext, and their punishment or pardon should depend upon
the circumstances of the case."--_Legacy of Iyeyasu_, ut supra.]

When Matayemon and Kazurna had expressed their thanks for his
lordship's gracious kindness, the governor took his leave and returned
home. At last the enemy's train was seen in the distance. First came
Sakurai Jiuzayemon and his younger brother Jinsuke; and next to them
followed Kawai Matagoro and Takenouchi Gentan. These four men, who
were the bravest and the foremost of the band of Ronins, were riding
on pack-horses, and the remainder were marching on foot, keeping close
together.

As they drew near, Kazuma, who was impatient to avenge his father,
stepped boldly forward and shouted in a loud voice--

"Here stand I, Kazuma, the son of Yukiye, whom you, Matagoro,
treacherously slew, determined to avenge my father's death. Come
forth, then, and do battle with me, and let us see which of us twain
is the better man."

And before the Ronins had recovered from their astonishment, Matayemon
said--

"I, Arake Matayemon, the son-in-law of Yukiye, have come to second
Kazuma in his deed of vengeance. Win or lose, you must give us
battle."

When the thirty-six men heard the name of Matayemon, they were greatly
afraid; but Sakurai Jiuzayemon urged them to be upon their guard, and
leaped from his horse; and Matayemon, springing forward with his drawn
sword, cleft him from the shoulder to the nipple of his breast, so
that he fell dead. Sakurai Jinsuke, seeing his brother killed before
his eyes, grew furious, and shot an arrow at Matayemon, who deftly cut
the shaft in two with his dirk as it flew; and Jinsuke, amazed at this
feat, threw away his bow and attacked Matayemon, who, with his sword
in his right hand and his dirk in his left, fought with desperation.
The other Ronins attempted to rescue Jinsuke, and, in the struggle,
Kazuma, who had engaged Matagoro, became separated from Matayemon,
whose two retainers, Busuke and Magohachi, bearing in mind their
master's orders, killed five Ronins who had attacked Kazuma, but were
themselves badly wounded. In the meantime, Matayemon, who had killed
seven of the Ronins, and who the harder he was pressed the more
bravely he fought, soon cut down thre