country boors by exhibiting tricks with his sword.

Then Umanosuké, striding through the gaping rabble, shouted out--

"False, murderous coward, your day has come! I, Umanosuké, the son of
Umanojô, have come to demand vengeance for the death of three innocent
men who have perished by your treachery. If you are a man, defend
yourself. This day shall your soul see hell!"

With these words he rushed furiously upon Banzayémon, who, seeing
escape to be impossible, stood upon his guard. But his coward's heart
quailed before the avenger, and he soon lay bleeding at his enemy's
feet.

But who shall say how Umanosuké thanked Chôbei for his assistance; or
how, when he had returned to his own country, he treasured up his
gratitude in his heart, looking upon Chôbei as more than a second
father?

Thus did Chôbei use his power to punish the wicked, and to reward the
good--giving of his abundance to the poor, and succouring the
unfortunate, so that his name was honoured far and near. It remains
only to record the tragical manner of his death.

We have already told how my lord Midzuno Jiurozayémon, the chief of
the associated nobles, had been foiled in his attempts to bring shame
upon Chôbei, the Father of the Otokodaté; and how, on the contrary,
the latter, by his ready wit, never failed to make the proud noble's
weapons recoil upon him. The failure of these attempts rankled in the
breast of Jiurozayémon, who hated Chôbei with an intense hatred, and