Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/241

Rh Soon afterwards a number of hostile soldiers burst into the house.

"Our Lord Hirayama has sent us," they cried, "with orders to carry away Lady Tamaori. Deliver her to us at once. If you offer the slightest resistance, you shall all die!"

Three of Fuji-no-Kata's maids, who heard these words, burst into hearty laughs. "What insolence!" they retorted. "How can we deliver you Lady Tamaori? She has just been married to Lord Atsumori. Besides, her Ladyship is absent. Don't waste any more of your time here, or you may be hurt. You had better go quickly."

When they had spoken this warning, they assumed the offensive. One of them brandished a halberd, another produced a long sword, and the third drew out a dagger. The soldiers were filled with fear at the skill with which the women wielded their weapons. Some of them were severely wounded, some mortally, and the rest took to flight.

But one of them, who was evidently their commander, held his ground and fought on bravely. Then Fuji-no-Kata seized her bow and, fitting an arrow, sent it flying with a loud twang. The man