alive and unharmed. Gladly we would have stayed with you, if it had been
possible. But the law of our village, as I told you last evening, obliges
us to quit our houses after a death has taken place, and to leave the
corpse alone. Whenever this law has been broken, heretofore, some great
misfortune has followed. Whenever it is obeyed, we find that the corpse and
the offerings disappear during our absence. Perhaps you have seen the
cause."


Then Muso told of the dim and awful Shape that had entered the
death-chamber to devour the body and the offerings. No person seemed to be
surprised by his narration; and the master of the house observed:--


"What you have told us, reverend Sir, agrees with what has been said about
this matter from ancient time."


Muso then inquired:--


"Does not the priest on the hill sometimes perform the funeral service for
your dead?"


"What priest?" the young man asked.


"The priest who yesterday evening directed me to this village," answered
Muso. "I called at his anjitsu on the hill yonder. He refused me lodging,