“Now, Chōshirō, if you don’t confess the truth, I will have you put
into this bag and never allow you to go home again, nor give you any
food. Do you still persist in your falsehood?”
“It is no falsehood, my lord. It is the truth that I caught the
sparrows of my own wish. No one but myself is responsible for my
misdeed. My fall from the roof was the punishment of Heaven. It is
right that you should chastise me also. I beg you to do so.”
With these words, Chōshirō, betraying no signs of fear, put himself
into the bag.
“What a stubborn boy!” exclaimed the Shogun in anger.
Then with the help of his consort he tightly fastened up the bag with
the boy in it, and had it hung from a peg on the wall of the corridor.
Leaving the poor child in this state all retired once more to their
broken rest.
* * * * *
Late the next morning, having had breakfast and finished her toilet,
Lady Eyo, attended by two maids of honour, came out to the corridor
where the bag still hung and ordered it to be taken down. On opening it
the boy was found still holding the dead sparrows.
“Good morning, your ladyship,” said Chōshirō, rubbing his eyes with his
closed fists.
“You were ordered by Takechiyo to take the sparrows, is it not so?”
said Lady Eyo kindly, hoping to make the boy confess the truth.
“No, my lady. It was my own idea. Takechiyo Sama had nothing whatever
to do with the matter.”
“Come, boy, if you are so obstinate you will have to remain a prisoner
always, and never have anything to eat. But if you confess what I am
convinced is the truth, you shall be released and have food at once.
Now tell the truth.”
“My lady, as you command me to do so I will tell the truth; but I am
so hungry that I find it difficult to speak at all. May I ask for some
food first? If you will allow me to have even some _musubi_,[1] I will
say all you wish.”
“Good boy, you shall have some _musubi_ at once.”
The lady gave the order and soon the boy was eagerly devouring the
rice-cakes. Three or four large ones made a good meal.
“Thank you, my lady; I am now able to speak.”
“Then confess the truth, good boy, confess quickly; I am tired of
waiting.”
“Forgive me, my lady; I caught the sparrows of my own accord. I
received no order direct or indirect from Takechiyo Sama. That is the
truth.”
The lady for once forgot herself and flew into a passion. Stamping
her foot on the floor, she rushed into the Shogun’s room and gave him
an exaggerated account of what had happened. He was very angry.
“The young rascal,” cried he, rising, and taking his Yoshimitsu sword
in his hand, “I will kill him myself. Tango Hasegawa, bring Chōshirō
here.”
Tango found the culprit sitting in the bag his hands on his lap.
“Chōshirō,” he said, “His lordship is terribly angry with you—your
stubbornness and insolence are past endurance. He intends to kill you
with his own hands. Prepare yourself for instant death!”
“I am quite prepared, sir.”
“Your father is my old friend,” went on the man pitifully. “If you have
any farewell message for him I will undertake to deliver it.”
“Thank you, sir; but I have no words to send to my father. It is the
duty of a samurai to sacrifice his life for the sake of loyalty. After
my death my motive for refusing to confess what my lord the Shogun
desires will become clear. Tell my father only that I met my doom
fearlessly by my lord’s own sword. My one sorrow is that my mother
is now ill and this news may lead to her death also. That is my only
regret.”
“What a truly heroic resolve!” cried Tango, unable to restrain his
tears. “Your father may well be proud of you, boy, when I tell him how
you met death.”
Taking Chōshirō by the hand Tango conducted him into the presence of
the Shogun and his lady. The stern noble stood up on their entrance
and laying his hand on the hilt of his sword motioned to them to
approach nearer. The brave boy kneeling down pushed the stray locks
from his neck, and with clasped hands and closed eyes calmly awaited
decapitation. The Shogun’s manly compassion was not proof against
this pathetic sight. Throwing his sword away, “Chōshirō, you are
forgiven!” he cried. “I recognize your supreme fidelity to your young
master—faithful unto death! Tango, I foretell that when Takechiyo
succeeds me as Shogun, no one will be able to assist him in the task of
ruling this people so well as this courageous young samurai. Chōshirō,
you are pardoned!”
[1] Boiled rice pressed into balls sometimes taken for a simple lunch.