"My poor Hoichi!" cried the startled priest,-- "what is this?... You have
been hurt?


At the sound of his friend's voice, the blind man felt safe. He burst out
sobbing, and tearfully told his adventure of the night.


"Poor, poor Hoichi!" the priest exclaimed,-- "all my fault! -- my very
grievous fault!... Everywhere upon your body the holy texts had been
written -- except upon your ears! I trusted my acolyte to do that part of
the work; and it was very, very wrong of me not to have made sure that he
had done it!... Well, the matter cannot now be helped; -- we can only try
to heal your hurts as soon as possible... Cheer up, friend! -- the danger
is now well over. You will never again be troubled by those visitors."



With the aid of a good doctor, Hoichi soon recovered from his injuries.
The story of his strange adventure spread far and wide, and soon made him
famous. Many noble persons went to Akamagaseki to hear him recite; and
large presents of money were given to him,-- so that he became a wealthy
man... But from the time of his adventure, he was known only by the
appellation of Mimi-nashi-Hoichi: "Hoichi-the-Earless."




OSHIDORI