Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/138

88 her way through the enemy's ranks with Nobunaga's grandson under her care, how she had left the child under the protection of General Hosokawa, and found her way alone thither, through all manner of perils to bring the tidings. At the conclusion of her narration, she gave one choking gasp and fell prostrate on to the ground, dead.

When he heard this pathetic story, Hidéyoshi was seized with grief and amazement. He feared that if the news of Nobunaga's untimely end should spread, it might dishearten his troops and lead to a defeat. He therefore cried at the top of his voice: "I have killed a woman who has tried to deceive me."

He then returned to an inner room, where he burned incense, and read the sutras, and prayed to the soul of his departed liege lord. When he had finished, he began to ponder how he might best deal with the traitor Mitsuhidé.

At this moment messengers from Terumoto arrived, bearing proposals of peace. Hidéyoshi promptly consented to them, and a treaty was at once concluded. Thereupon he raised the siege and hastened towards the Capital in order