Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/243

 IV

Tairas' camp extended from Ichi-no-tani on the west to Ikuta on the east. The rear of the camp was protected by a steep cliff, and in front of it stretched the seashore. From the bluff down to the beach, the position was fortified with a strong stockade. Over it, numerous red banners were streaming in the wind. Atsumori was guarding one important post, as substitute for his foster-father Tsunémori.

It was late one cold windy night. The moon shone dimly. Kojirō, the son of Kumagai Naozané, suddenly appeared in front of the gate of Atsumori's post. The young warrior had forced his way hither, spurred on by the ardent ambition to distinguish himself at the very first battle he had ever joined in. He had come along narrow passes, stumbling over stones, and entanglements of roots. As he desired to cut his way into the camp before any comrade of his followed him, he searched and searched about for some weak point through which to break. This was of no avail. 181