s ample space. Its highways and byways showed
lines of bamboo fences, plaster walls, broken at intervals by gates.
Between the far _yashiki_ there was much waste land. Suspicious were its
precincts in these days when the haunting spirits and apparitions,
attendant on once owners and their wars, were being driven out by the
advent and aggression of the new lords from the South. Still fresh in
men's minds was the wondrous _mami-ana_ of Azabu--the cave of the
_tanuki_ (badger)--with the implied curse on the Tokugawa. The cohorts
of apparitions, driven northward to the land of savages, had suffered
severely at the hands of Ii Naomasa on the banks of the Ueno Toshima
ferry. Thus the curse came down the centuries on the Tokugawa House.

Once in the heart of the district Saburo[u]zaemon stood uncertain. All
sense of locality was lost. The Bancho[u] by day and by night greatly
differed. The wind sighed through the great pine trees and whispered in
the long _suzuki_ grass. He thought to reach the neighbourhood of the
Gomizaka. The noise and bustle of the Ko[u]jimachi would give direction.
Just then a lantern came in sight at the turning in the lane. As it drew
near it was seen that to all appearance the bearer was a _chu[u]gen_.
Endo[u] drew back into the shadow. He would take a good look at him. He
allowed the man to pass. Then from behind--"Heigh! Wait!" Instead of
waiting the fellow took to his heels. Endo[u] pursued and soon caught
him. In terror the fellow sank on his knees before the two sworded man.
"Deign, honoured sir, to spare the cutting test. This Isuke is yet
young. He loves life. Condescend not to cut short his breath."
Saburo[u]zaemon was struck by the name fresh to his ears. Coldly he
looked the man over; played on his terror--"Yet you are fat; just of the
girth to give fair test to a new blade."--"Nay! Your lordship can deign
to observe it. Isuke is stuffed out with a recent meal. It would be but
a case of tripes. His bones are young and soft, his muscles wasted by
mere feeding. It would be as cutting _to[u]fu_ (bean paste). Deign to
spare him."

Said Saburo[u]zaemon. "'Tis no cutting test. Thus passing carelessly at
the side that fat paunch was an easy mark. Be more careful
henceforth.... You live hereabouts?"--"Honoured Sir, 'tis so. Isuke is
_chu[u]gen_ at the _yashiki_ of Okumura Sama."--"Ah! Then you know the
haunted house (_bakemono yashiki_) of the Bancho[u]."--"Just beyond?
Isuke knows it too well."--"L