him at sight of
the steel. Ah! Better the green slime of the waters below. He thrust the
blade back into its scabbard. Moodily standing and gazing down, he gave
an idle kick to a stone near by. Dislodged, it swayed, then rolled
heavily down the bank, to plunge noisily into the stream, disturb its
noisome depths. The effect was surprising. Following its course with his
eye Iemon suddenly gave a yell of horror. Eyes starting from his head,
arms raised high, he bent toward the stream. Hair standing on end he
watched the hideous object rise to the surface. The face of Cho[u]bei,
purple and bloated, the lips half gnawed and open in a fiendish grin,
looked up at him. Down came the arms, and Iemon put hands over eyes to
shut out the fearful vision. A horrid curiosity drove him again to view
it. Was he mad? This time the barrel in its slow revolution brought to
view the wide flat face, the bulging brow and heavy lids, the tangled,
disordered hair of the drowned O'Iwa. Scream after scream of the now
frantic wretch rang in the air. These waters! Seek death there! No! No!
A thousand times--No! He turned to flee the place, but his legs refused
the service. With fell purpose he ripped the blade from its scabbard,
tore open his clothes to give the deadly thrust. As he raised the dagger
invisible hands seized his arm. When he would release it, the other arm
was seized. Everywhere these hands held him fast. He raged, tore,
struggled madly to elude their grasp. Then, overcome, he fainted.

Katada Tatewaki from the top of the bank had been watching the
struggle of his men. He came forward and looked down at the bound and
helpless creature. "'Tis he: in very fact." On order a bamboo pole was
fetched, and run between the bound hands and feet. Thus like some beast
was Iemon conveyed to the nearest ward office. The formalities were few
and soon over. To avoid chance of repetition of the scene they conveyed
him as he was. Thus began the brutal progress across Edo in full
daylight. People turned and stared after this escort of the man-beast.
At a distance they took the burden as some savage bear, or perhaps one
of those reputed "_tanuki_" so noxious in their pranks on humankind.
Come closer it was seen to be a man. Any mad struggle to get free was
treated to spear pricks applied with no great nicety beyond the
avoidance of serious injury. Violent as were his struggles at times, it
is doubtful if they could have walked him the long distance. For