ox and badger soup is made. With human stench it is not
savoured. There is a dead body within. Hence the frightful odour."

Shu[u]zen at once began to twist his head towel around his nose. With
feeblest protest Isuke saw him take the torch and disappear into the
passage. Soon his voice was heard. "Isuke! Isuke! Is he milk livered?
How about the gold and silver? Would Isuke abandon it?" Isuke would not.
In a trice he was on hands and knees, to rejoin his master who was
roaring with laughter. "Gold and silver may be here," Shu[u]zen
explained. "Otherwise Isuke would have backed out of the undertaking,
all the way to the cave's entrance. Turn the body over. See whether it
is of man or woman." Much put out Isuke did as he was bid. "Pfugh!
Stirring does no good. The very flesh is melting from the bones. The
hair of the beard and head show it to be a man." Shu[u]zen turned to a
wider passage, plainly due in part to hand. By crouching he could enter
into a larger chamber. In wonder and admiration he called to Isuke. In
so far, the _chu[u]gen_ would pursue the venture. Besides would he not
follow his master to Meido itself? "Look, Isuke! Such groining of the
roof is only made by Nature's hand. The cave of Fudo[u] Sama at Meguro
shows no finer sight." He pointed to the mass of interlacing roots of
some huge _icho[u]_ rising from the ground above. Isuke grumbled assent,
without much vigour. He was getting tired of this adventure. It was a
satisfaction they could go no further. Shu[u]zen meanwhile was rummaging
the place, which evidently had been a kind of dwelling. In a closet were
found some coarse cooking utensils and crockery for food. A supply of
firewood in one corner, and a box, completed the furniture. With
curiosity Shu[u]zen turned over the books in the box. A cry brought
Isuke to his side. "Your share, Isuke." He pointed to three shining
silver _ryo[u]_ which lay below the scrolls. Isuke looked incredulous at
the find. Then he prostrated himself before his master in deepest
gratitude. With joy he pocketed the coin and shouldered the scrolls.
There was nothing more to do. They sought the open air.

The strange sight reported to him, Beita Heima the _karo[u]_ appeared
before his master. In the early morning light Shu[u]zen was pouring
buckets of cold water over Isuke, having himself undergone the same
treatment at the _chu[u]gen's_ hands. "Kan mairi, Heima,"[7] said
Shu[u]zen with a laugh. Then he explained matters to the