his
retainers were the tengus, though they were often rebellious and
disobedient, not liking to be governed by a boy.

One day, an old mother-tengu, who had always laughed at the idea of
obeying a little dumpling of a fellow like Kintar[=o], flew up to her
nest in a high fir tree. Kintar[=o] watched to see where it was, and
waited till she left it to go and seek for food. Then going up to the
tree, he shook it with all his might, until the nest came tumbling down,
and the two young squabs of tengus with it.

Now it happened that just at that time the great hero and imp-killer,
Raik[=o], was marching through the mountains on his way to Ki[=o]to.
Seeing that the ruddy little fellow was no ordinary child, he found out
the mother and heard her story. He then asked for the child and adopted
him as his own.

So Kintar[=o] went off with Raik[=o] and grew up to be a brave soldier,
and taking his father's name, he was known as Sakata Kintoki. His mother,
however, remained in the mountains, and living to an extreme old age, was
always known as "The old nurse of the mountains."

* * * * *

To this day, Kintaro is the hero of Japanese boys, and on their huge
kites will usually be seen a picture of the little black-eyed ruddy boy
of the mountains, with his axe, while around him are his wild playmates,
and the young tengus rubbing their long noses, which were so nearly
broken by their fall.

JIRAIYA, OR THE MAGIC FROG.

Ogata was the name of a castle-lord who lived in the Island of the Nine
Provinces, (Kiushiu). He had but one son, an infant, whom the people in
admiration nicknamed Jiraiya (Young Thunder.) During one of the civil
wars, this castle was taken, and Ogata was slain; but by the aid of a
faithful retainer, who hid Jiraiya in his bosom, the boy escaped and fled
northward to Echigo. There he lived until he grew up to manhood.

At that time Echigo was infested with robbers. One day the faithful
retainer of Jiraiya being attacked, made resistance, and was slain by
the robbers. Jiraiya now left alone in the world went out from Echigo and
led a wandering life in several provinces.

All this time he was consumed with the desire to revive the name of his
father, and restore the fortunes of his family. Being exceedingly brave,
and an expert swordsman, he became chief of a band of robbers and
plundered many wealthy merchants, and in a short time he was rich in men,
arms and booty. H