Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 2.djvu/220

 objections and ordered Sadayuki, chief of Nojiri, to contrive the removal of the supposed traitor. Sadayuki repaired to Nojiri, invited Masakage to pay him a friendly visit, took him out on the lake in" a boat having its keel planks loosened, and throwing his arms around him, died with him. People did not detect the hand of Kenshin in this incident. They imagined that it was the sequel of a private quarrel between the two men, and Kenshin confirmed the delusion by confiscating Sadayuki's fief. But he subsequently bestowed large revenues on Sadayuki's son, and adopted as his own heir Masakage's son, the afterwards celebrated Uyesugi Kagekatsu.

Two other instances may be quoted, one as helping to express the motive of the bushi's loyalty, another as illustrating his heroic courage:—

Takeda Katsuyori, his forces scattered in battle, escaped with only forty men to the mountain of Temmoku. There he was joined by Kamiyama Tomonobu. This man, previously one of Katsuyori's chief vassals, had been dismissed in consequence of his unwelcome warnings that disaster must result unless his lord adopted different courses, and in consequence of slanders directed against him. He found higher service elsewhere, yet when he learned that Katsuyori was reduced to helpless extremity, he hastened to his side and died with him.