Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/461

Rh shells, did not expect an attack from a snipe. On the other hand, the snipe, proud of its sharp beak, was quite ignorant of the seizing powers of the clam. The snipe struggled to shake the clam off, but the clam would not loosen its hold. Both are now much too intent on their own respective purposes to pay any attention to anything else. So I can easily catch them both without the least effort. Hard shells or a sharp beak would be of no avail against me. A great tactical secret lies in this. One can easily conquer two heroes who are fighting each other. Well, I hear that in China, my father's country, the Ming dynasty and the King of Tartary are now at war with each other, and the Chinese Empire is in a state of great turmoil. I will take this opportunity to cross over to China and conquer the two powers that are fighting each other. It would be an easy task and I have made up my mind to try it."

Reflecting thus, Kokusenya continued to watch the fight between the clam and the snipe. His wife, Komutsu, was quite unaware of her husband's heroic determination. Taking compassion on the frightened animals, she pulled out a hairpin, and with it opened the shells of the clam. The snipe