pense. Shinsei belongs to the Gate of Buddha, and should you now be slain, he will not continue his revenge after your death.' Tametomo paid no attention to this taunt, but rushed down into the larger courtyard and stood up at the distance of a bowshot. . . . The two archers took two arrows each, and stood over against him. Not only the sovereign but all present wrung their hands till they perspired, expecting every moment to see Tametomo's life fade faster than the clear dew beneath the sunbeams. Norishige fitted an arrow to his bow, and drawing it till it bent into a full moon, let fly with an accompanying shout. With his right hand Tametomo caught the arrow in the nick of time, while with his left he stopped the shaft which Norikazu the next moment shot at him just as it flew close to his heart. 'A miss!' exclaimed the two archers, disappointed. 'We don't want to kill him, but this time he won't catch our arrows.' They drew their bows together, and watching a proper moment, let fly with a whiz. One arrow Tametomo stayed by entangling it in the sleeve of his garment but as he had no other means of catching the second, he seized it firmly between his teeth, and at once crunched its head to atoms. All this was done with a rapidity which may be compared to the flickering air dancing over the hot ground, or to the lightning's flash. To all the spectators it seemed more than human. They felt as if intoxicated. It was beyond all praise, and no one said a word. Tametomo flung aside the arrows to right and left. 'Now, your Reverence, you will be so good as to give me your head,' he cried, and springing up the stairs, was about to take hold of Shinsei, when his father, Tameyoshi, interfered."
Tametomo has to leave Kiōto for political reasons. He
