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[Footnote 10: From Japanese Folk-Stories and Fairy Tales. Copyright,
1908, by American Book Company.]

Once upon a time there was a brave soldier lad who was seeking his
fortune in the wide, wide world. One day he lost his way in a pathless
forest, and wandered about until he came at length to a small clearing
in the midst of which stood a ruined temple. The huge trees waved above
its walls, and the leaves in the thicket whispered around them. No sun
ever shone there, and no human being lived there.

A storm was coming up, and the soldier lad took refuge among the ruins.

"Here is all I want," said he. "Here I shall have shelter from the
storm-god's wrath, and a comfortable place to sleep in."

So he wrapped himself in his cloak, and, lying down, was soon fast
asleep. But his slumbers did not last long. At midnight he was wakened
by fearful shrieks, and springing to his feet, he looked out at the
temple door.

The storm was over. Moonlight shone on the clearing. And there he saw
what seemed to be a troop of monstrous cats, who like huge phantoms
marched across the open space in front of the temple. They broke into
a wild dance, uttering shrieks, howls, and wicked laughs. Then they all
sang together:--

"Whisper not to Shippeitaro
That the Phantom Cats are near;
Whisper not to Shippeitaro,
Lest he soon appear!"

The soldier lad crouched low behind the door, for brave as he was he did
not wish these fearful creatures to see him. But soon, with a chorus of
wild yells, the Phantom Cats disappeared as quickly as they had come,
and all was quiet as before.

Then the soldier lad lay down and went to sleep again, nor did he waken
till the sun peered into the temple and told him that it was morning. He
quickly found his way out of the forest and walked on until he came to
the cottage of a peasant.

As he approached he heard sounds of bitter weeping. A beautiful young
maiden met him at the door, and her eyes were red with crying. She
greeted him kindly.

"May I have some food?" said he.

"Enter and welcome," she replied. "My parents are just having breakfast.
You may join them, for no one passes our door hungry."

Thanking her the lad entered, and her parents greeted him courteously
but sadly, and shared their breakfast with him. He ate heartily, and,
when he was finished, rose to go.

"Thank you many times for this good meal, kind friends," said he, "and
may h