Page:Eminent Authors of Contemporary Japan.pdf/173

Rh be heard.

The hermit, catching hold of rocks and roots of trees, carefully let himself down the face of the cliff. At the bottom he found a big cave, into the mouth of which the thread stretched. Peering into the darkest corner of the cave, he beheld, staring at him with terrible eyes, his poor niece, the once beautiful Araginu.

In front of her, huge cobwebs spread their nets about the cave. Poor Araginu! With an empty shuttle in one hand, she was extending both her arms, as if still trying to weave something. Alas! With those big eyes, wild and glaring, those thin and weirdly elongated limbs, and the dark, drab colour of her skin, she already had the appearance of a spider.