Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/435

Rh I therefore took him and his sister beyond the river, by boat "

When he heard her words, Tombei flew into a terrible passion. Gnashing his teeth, and stamping on the mat, he roared: "Shameless wanton! For the sake of your love, you have disclosed your father's great secret, and let a bird in his snare fly away."

With these words, he fell upon her and struck her several times with his clenched fist.

"If you have any pity," entreated O-Funé, failing under the double weight of her wound and these blows, "give up your evil intention and save Yoshiminé. Pray grant my request!"

"Pshaw!" said the unfeeling ruffian, smiling bitterly. "If I let Yoshiminé escape, I shall break my promise to Takezawa."

The girl caught at his sleeve, but he thrust her aside and leaped down into the yard. Seizing the rocket which was standing there ready, he set fire to it. The signal went off with a loud report, and at the alarm trumpets were blown in the villages.

On hearing the sound, the dying maiden started up with amazement, and thinking that Yoshiminé was in imminent danger, she wept bitterly.