Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/302

232 their feet and prepared to renew the attack. But she flung at their feet a packet, crying the while: "There is the girl's ransom!" The ruffians were startled at the jingling sound that they heard when the packet fell. They picked it up and found in it ten gold coins. With a muttered grumble, "It's small enough, but we'll take it," they took themselves off.

The old woman, casting a quick glance around, produced a whistle on which she blew shrilly. At that signal, several sailors appeared, part of the crew of a ship that lay moored in the river. Miyuki was conducted to the vessel. Then the anchor was weighed, the oars were plied, and the ship drove out to open sea.

Just at this time, Sekisuké, Yuminosuké's servant, appeared on the bank, and called loudly to the crew; but they made as if they could not hear him and bent to their oars with might and main. But Miyuki put her head out of the cabin window, and peering through the moonlight, cried: "Oh! That is Sekisuké, is it not?" Then the sailors forced her in and slammed the window to.

Now this old woman, whose name was Aratayé,