r
divine aid and bestow the old well ghost haunted on this Aoyama." Okubo
laughed at his earnestness. "Aoyama Uji leaves this O[u]kubo no resort
but in the Buddha. Good fortune to O[u]kubo, and may the will of the
Lord Buddha be done.... Naruhodo! 'Tis yours after all. The shaft of the
war god is stronger than the Buddha's staff." He took his disappointment
so well as to be the more urgent in securing the transfer. This was
granted, with expenses of removal.

Aoyama Shu[u]zen superintended in person the preparation of his new
residence. This was soon in readiness as little was to be done. O[u]kubo
took cash and construction. The former villa, fallen to Shu[u]zen's
part, needed mainly air and light, and repairs to its rotten woodwork.
When it was time to think of the water supply Aoyama ordered the
cleaning out of the old well. The workmen began to talk--"'Tis the old
well of the inner garden, the Yanagi-ido of the Yoshida Goten. Danna
Sama, deign to order exorcism made, and that the well be filled up and
covered from men's sight." The Danna laughed at them, and was obstinate
in his purpose. He took upon himself all the wrath of the disturbed and
angered spirits. He hoped that they would not furnish material for more.
To hearten them, he and his men descended to the level of the water.
With headshakes and misgivings the chief ordered his men to the
task--"Pfu! It stinks of ghosts, or something. Surely there will be dead
men's bones for harvest; and perhaps those of the living. The old well
has not seen its last ill deed." As for the dead men's bones, the well
refuse was laid aside, and on Aoyama's order buried with no particular
reverence in the bowels of the _tsukiyama_ close by. "Let all the
spirits of the place find company together," he jeered. The _yashiki_ of
Komiyasan in Honjo[u] had its processions of marvels--dead men, frogs,
_tanuki_, and fox--to shake its _amado_ at night and divert the monotony
of those who lived therein. The portentous foot perhaps he could not
match, but he would share in this contest with ghostly visions. Chance
had offered him the opportunity. All was prepared. Shu[u]zen had
established himself. Nightly with his camp stool he took his seat by the
old well, to smoke his pipe and drink his wine--"Now! Out with you,
ghosts! Here present is Aoyama Shu[u]zen, _hatamoto_ of the land. He
would join in your revels. Deign to hasten.... What! The ghosts would
rest this night?" Thus night after nigh