"Hoichi!"


"Hai!" (1) answered the blind man, frightened by the menace in the
voice,-- "I am blind! -- I cannot know who calls!"


"There is nothing to fear," the stranger exclaimed, speaking more gently.
"I am stopping near this temple, and have been sent to you with a message.
My present lord, a person of exceedingly high rank, is now staying in
Akamagaseki, with many noble attendants. He wished to view the scene of the
battle of Dan-no-ura; and to-day he visited that place. Having heard of
your skill in reciting the story of the battle, he now desires to hear your
performance: so you will take your biwa and come with me at once to the
house where the august assembly is waiting."


In those times, the order of a samurai was not to be lightly disobeyed.
Hoichi donned his sandals, took his biwa, and went away with the stranger,
who guided him deftly, but obliged him to walk very fast. The hand that
guided was iron; and the clank of the warrior's stride proved him fully
armed,-- probably some palace-guard on duty. Hoichi's first alarm was over:
he began to imagine himself in good luck; -- for, remembering the
retainer's assurance about a "person of exceedingly high rank," he thought
that the lord who wished to hear the recitation could not be less than a
daimyo of the first class. Presently the samurai halted; and Hoichi became
aware that they had arrived at a large gateway; -- and he wondered, for he
could not remember any large gate in that part of the town, except the main
gate of the Amidaji. "Kaimon!" [4] the samurai called,-- and there was a