see anything strange during our absence, please tell us of the matter when
we return in the morning."



All then left the house, except the priest, who went to the room where the
dead body was lying. The usual offerings had been set before the corpse;
and a small Buddhist lamp -- tomyo -- was burning. The priest recited the
service, and performed the funeral ceremonies,-- after which he entered
into meditation. So meditating he remained through several silent hours;
and there was no sound in the deserted village. But, when the hush of the
night was at its deepest, there noiselessly entered a Shape, vague and
vast; and in the same moment Muso found himself without power to move or
speak. He saw that Shape lift the corpse, as with hands, devour it, more
quickly than a cat devours a rat,-- beginning at the head, and eating
everything: the hair and the bones and even the shroud. And the monstrous
Thing, having thus consumed the body, turned to the offerings, and ate them
also. Then it went away, as mysteriously as it had come.



When the villagers returned next morning, they found the priest awaiting
them at the door of the headman's dwelling. All in turn saluted him; and
when they had entered, and looked about the room, no one expressed any
surprise at the disappearance of the dead body and the offerings. But the
master of the house said to Muso:--


"Reverent Sir, you have probably seen unpleasant things during the night:
all of us were anxious about you. But now we are very happy to find you