Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/436

352 But she thought of a happy idea. Looking up at the drum which was hanging in the room, she said to herself:

"I have heard that this drum is to be beaten as a signal that a refugee has been caught. If they should hear it, they would cease to look for any one. Here is my chance of saving my dear Lord Yoshiminé."

Her courage revived when she thought this, and reaching out her trembling hand, she took the drum-stick and gave the drum one strong blow.

Rokuzō, who was on the watch downstairs, was amazed at the sound of the drum. He rushed up and tried to drag O-Funé away, but she made a desperate effort to push him off. While they were struggling thus, Tombei jumped into a boat and sculled it with might and main in pursuit of Yoshiminé.

When O-Funé saw her father in the boat, she became frantic with despair, and uttered several loud screams. "Father! Father!" she cried, "Wait just one moment!" It was in vain. Then she seized the drum-stick again, but Rokuzō prevented her once more. With desperate courage she drew a dirk, and cut at the rascal, who in trying to avoid the blade of her dagger, fell