Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/418

338 it. The faithful samurai, however, did not let go his hold, but exerted all his strength to keep back the horse, Yoshi-oki became furiously angry.

"Loosen your hold at once, you insolent wretch," roared he. "I discharge you! You are no longer one of my retainers,"—and fiercely kicking Hyōgo, he galloped away.

Meanwhile Yoshi-oki's wife, Lady Tsukuba, and his only son Tokuju-maru a three-year-old child, resided in the castle at Nitta in Kōzuké, which was guarded by Minasé Rokurō, and a little garrison. They were waited upon by Hyōgo's wife, Minato, and the wives of the leading samurai. They fervently prayed for victory, and anxiously waited for the news of the battle at Musashino.

They were talking of the engagement when Hyōgo returned from the front, and gave them an account of the battle. "His lordship was so elated by the victory," he said, "that he thoughtlessly proposed to give chase to the fleeing enemy and attack his headquarters, Kamakura. I earnestly remonstrated with him, and told him that it was a rash and dangerous undertaking, but in vain. He not only turned a deaf ear to my words,