ition. In the physical effort exerted, the slit of the mouth showed
the broad black even teeth, which seemed about to clutch at his throat;
as did the vigorous hand, the nails of which sank into his gullet.
Framed in the mass of wild disordered hair Mobei was isolated as in a
universe of space; left alone with this fearful vision. "Lady! Lady
O'Iwa! Lady of Tamiya! This Mobei has done naught. Others have wronged
O'Iwa San. Mobei is guiltless.... Ah! Ah!" With fright and pain he
rolled over on the ground in a dead faint. Screaming and shouting the
women Take and Ko[u]ta rushed around and out to his rescue. O'Iwa San
was now under the full control of her disorder. Takezo staggered back,
her hands to her face to hide the horrible sight, to wipe from eyes and
cheeks the blood streaming from the deep tears made by O'Iwa's nails.
Ko[u]ta from behind seized O'Iwa around the waist and shoulders. Sharply
up came the elbow shot, catching this interloper under the chin. Neck
and jaw fairly cracked under the well-delivered blow. Ko[u]ta went down
in a heap as one dead. A _chu[u]gen_ coming along the North Warigesui
had reached the crossing. He thought it better to stand aside, rather
than attempt to stop this maddened fiend tearing through space. At the
canal bank there was a moment's pause. Then came a dull splash; as of
some heavy body plunged in the water. With a cry the man hastened
forward. Not a sign of anything could be seen. In this rural place no
help was to be had, and he was little inclined to plunge at random into
the foul stream. In haste he turned back to where a crowd was gathering
around the prostrate Mobei, the groaning harlots to whom punishment had
been meted out.

CHAPTER XV

CHO[U]BEI GETS THE NEWS

The _chu[u]gen_ stood over the toilet dealer now coming out of his
half-trance condition. The eyes of the two men met and showed mutual
astonishment. "Naruhodo! Mobei San! In a quarrel over his wares with the
vile women of this district?"--"Kakusuke San! Ah! There is much to tell.
O'Iwa San...." The _chu[u]gen_ of Ito[u] Kwaiba was amazed attention.
"This Mobei to his ill fortune, met with the lady of Tamiya. Her
condition, her ignorance, was too pitiful. Learning all the truth from
Mobei she inflicted on him this punishment. May it cease there! Namu
Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!... Heavy the grudge against your master
Ito[u] Dono; against Iemon Sama, his wife O'Hana San, all in the plot
against the Lady