were the bravest and the foremost of the band of Rônins, were riding
on pack-horses, and the remainder were marching on foot, keeping close
together.

As they drew near, Kazuma, who was impatient to avenge his father,
stepped boldly forward and shouted in a loud voice--

"Here stand I, Kazuma, the son of Yukiyé, whom you, Matagorô,
treacherously slew, determined to avenge my father's death. Come
forth, then, and do battle with me, and let us see which of us twain
is the better man."

And before the Rônins had recovered from their astonishment, Matayémon
said--

"I, Araké Matayémon, the son-in-law of Yukiyé, have come to second
Kazuma in his deed of vengeance. Win or lose, you must give us
battle."

When the thirty-six men heard the name of Matayémon, they were greatly
afraid; but Sakurai Jiuzayémon urged them to be upon their guard, and
leaped from his horse; and Matayémon, springing forward with his drawn
sword, cleft him from the shoulder to the nipple of his breast, so
that he fell dead. Sakurai Jinsuké, seeing his brother killed before
his eyes, grew furious, and shot an arrow at Matayémon, who deftly cut
the shaft in two with his dirk as it flew; and Jinsuké, amazed at this
feat, threw away his bow and attacked Matayémon, who, with his sword
in his right hand and his dirk in his left, fought with desperation.
The other Rônins attempted to rescue Jinsuké, and, in the struggle,
Kazuma, who had engaged Matagorô, became separated from Matayémon,