Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/421

Rh his last. All were filled with horror and consternation at the dreadful news and ghastly sight. They were still in a state of stupefaction, when two or three soldiers on patrol rushed in, and reported that hostile troops were marching upon the castle. Soon afterwards Kemmotsu rode up to the other side of the moat, and made a fierce attack upon the building. After a severe struggle, most of the garrison fell, and the attacking troops captured the castle. But Hyōgo, his wife, and Rokurō, hastily disguised themselves, and made their escape, guarding Lady Tsukuba and their baby Lord Tokuju-maru. The poor fugitives wandered separately from place to place. Rokurō and Hyōgo suffered indescribable hardships for the sake of their young master. Rokurō lost his life in his faithful efforts, and Hyōgo killed his son Tomochiyo, a three-year-old child, to deceive Taka-uji's spies into believing that he had faithlessly murdered Tokuju-maru. Thus the trusty warrior was able to protect his infant master to the end.