Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/460

372 and spouted forth a column of water; Almost immediately afterwards, a snipe flew down, intending to make the shell-fish its prey. The eager bird hopped on to the clam, and thrust its sharp beak between its shells. The clam instantly shut its shells and the bird's beak was held fast. The snipe, disappointed to find that its antagonist was so brave, flapped its wings vigorously, shook its head, and struggled hard to break the clam on a rock. But it was not to be so easily vanquished. It tried its utmost to drag the snipe into the water.

The bird was irritated at this, and spreading its wings, it flew up about ten feet into the air; but the struggling clam was too heavy, so it fell to the earth again. Then it flew up, and fell down again several times. It seemed impossible to foretell which would be the victor, and when their combat would end.

Kokusenya looked intently at the scene for some minutes. Then he thought to himself: "I can see here a great secret in tactics. I have studied tactics under my father's tuition for many years, but the lesson I have learned to-day from the battle between the snipe and the clam is the greatest of all. The clam, relying on its hard