he
found himself, as often of late, on the embankment of the North
Warigesui. He looked down on the foul place of O'Iwa's disappearance. "A
foul ending; but after all an end. One night! One night's sleep! Deign,
lady of Tamiya, to grant pardon and respite to Cho[u]bei. Just one hour
of sleep." Carefully he adjusted his mat. Painfully he stretched himself
out on it. "To die on the mat. Such was the word of Iemon." He felt his
rags. "It was well he agreed. Cho[u]bei had other means to force
compliance. Well, 'tis for later use." A continued rustling aroused him.
Some one was cautiously picking a way through the dry grass of the past
winter, was creeping toward him. He half rose. Seeing that concealment
was no longer possible, the man rushed on him. Cho[u]bei struggled to
his feet, as one to fight for life. "Life is dear. Why kill Cho[u]bei
the leper? Is he a test for some new sword? Deign to pardon. The flesh
of the leper is too rotten. It defiles the weapon. Cho[u]bei has been
the _samurai_; he knows.... Ah! Respite there is none. 'Tis Iemon! Iemon
of Tamiya would kill Cho[u]bei!" He shouted and coupled the names in his
despair. Fearful of discovery, of being overheard, Iemon did not delay.
The gleaming weapon descended. Standing over the body Iemon showed
uncertainty. He had some thought of search; even bent down over it. But
he could not touch those foul rags. His nicety of feeling, almost
womanlike--recoiled. Besides, what more had Iemon to do with the leper
Cho[u]bei. Their account was closed. Should he leave the body where it
was? Recognition might convey some danger, at least inconvenience. He
looked around for means to sink it in these waters, and yet not handle
its repulsiveness. A _sho[u]yu_ tub, old but fairly intact, lay upon the
bank. It caught his eye. He rolled it up to the corpse. Gingerly he
girdled the body of the dead man with his _tasuki_ (shoulder cord). Now
tight fast it clasped the roundness of the barrel. This he filled with
stones, drove in the head, and with a shove sent it and its burden into
the Warigesui. "That will hold him down. The rotten punk! Three days,
and none could recognize him." Then he set off at rapid pace for
Yotsuya.

CHAPTER XXIII

SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS: THE FLOWERLESS ROAD TRAVERSED BY THE DEAD

It was the hour of the pig (9 P.M.) before Iemon reached the house in
Yotsuya. To his surprise he found the _amado_ still open on the garden.
Some one was lying face downwar