Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/352

278 assassin at any cost, and revenge himself of his brother's death. He entreated for, and obtained from the Regent Hideyoshi, permission for vendetta. Katsugorō was joined in his undertaking by a faithful servant of his dead brother, named Fudesuké.

Fudesuké, although he was merely a servant, thoroughly understood the duty of loyalty to his lord. He possessed wonderful muscular power, and proficiency in military arts. Katsugorō and Fudesuké wished to avoid notice, so they resolved to travel in different directions in search of their enemy. They also arranged to meet each other from time to time for mutual information. Fudesuké set out on his journey the very day following his master's assassination. Katsugorō started soon after. They wandered for more than four years, through different provinces, incognito and under assumed names. However, their hardships and sufferings proved to be of no avail. They could not find a single clue as to the enemy's whereabouts.