“As you see, our allied armies will be able to reach Nagashino in two
days at the latest. So rest assured that the relief will be in time.
You must be greatly fatigued. Remain here a few days till you are fully
rested.”
“Your Excellency is too considerate, but I cannot take advantage of
your kindness. I must return at once and tell the garrison of the
success of my mission and that help is coming. Allow me to set out
without delay.”
“By your own showing it would be quite impossible for you to re-enter
the castle in the manner in which you came out. Do not be rash, but
stay here as I advise you.”
“A thousand pardons, Your Excellency,” said Katsutaka, respectfully,
but firmly. “At the risk of my life I undertook this errand; I will
carry it through to the end. It is an honour more than my poor life is
worth to have been granted speech with Your Excellency and favoured
with words of commendation from your august lips. Life can offer me
no higher grace. Even should I be captured by the enemy and put
to an ignominious death I should have nothing to regret. The garrison
is starving; to know that help is on the way will give them new life.
Permit me to go, Your Excellency.”
“If you are so set upon it,” replied Lord Tokugawa, “I will say no
more. You shall take a letter from me to Sadamasa.”
“That would be dangerous, Your Excellency. If the letter were found on
my person notice would be given of your approach and the enemy would
take steps accordingly.”
“Right,” said Iyeyasu with a smile. “You are wise as well as brave, my
Katsutaka!”
Then Katsutaka bade farewell to Lord Tokugawa and Lord Okudaira
Sadayoshi, and shouldering his gun set out once more on his perilous
journey.
* * * * *
Anxiously did the diminishing and weakened garrison at the besieged
castle wait for the signal that should tell them help was coming.
Cheered by the knowledge that Katsutaka, contrary to expectation, had
succeeded in eluding the sentinels they now had some hope that he would
have the same good fortune in his further quest. In turn watchmen
went up to the high tower and strained their eyes in the direction
whence the promised signal would appear. At midnight of the second day,
to their boundless joy, they descried a light as of a bonfire on Mt.
Funatsuki; and soon three columns of dark smoke rose in the still air
plainly seen against the sky that was lighted up by a great round moon.
Help was coming! But would it be sufficient? How many troops were on
their way? Hark! a sharp report, and then another and yet another till
seven shots gave the glad assurance of the approach of 70,000 men. The
starving men took heart again, and forgetting hunger and wounds looked
forward with joy to their speedy relief.
But the sound of the shots reached other ears as well as those for
which it was intended. The company on guard at the foot of the mountain
heard it too, and a detachment went up to investigate. General Naito
Masatoyo himself led the little band. With no thought of danger
Katsutaka, triumphant, was gaily running down when he found himself
surrounded by the very men he wished to avoid.
“Halt! Who are you?” demanded the general. Katsutaka’s ready wit did
not desert him.
“Hearing shots, I have been with my comrades to find out what they
meant. We have searched everywhere but can find no one. I am coming
down to report our failure.”
“Come nearer and let me see your face. Who is your captain?”
“I belong to the company of riflemen under the command of Captain
Anayama.”
“Your name!”
“My name—my name is....”
“Men, take this fellow prisoner.”
More easily said than done. At the command four or five soldiers sprang
forward to obey, but Katsutaka made such a vigorous defence that they
found it impossible to hold him; and freeing himself from their grasp
he ran down towards the foot of the hill. More soldiers were coming up,
however, so he turned back, hoping under cover of some bushes to slip
past and thus escape. But he was seen and caught as in a trap. Dealing
heavy blows right and left he made a good fight, but the odds were too
overwhelming and he was at last forced to yield. His gun was taken from
him and handed to the general who found thereon an inscription in red
lacquer, “One of 3,000 guns belonging to the Castle of Okazaki.”
The truth flashed upon him. He guessed that the man they had captured
had been to Okazaki to ask for reinforcements. Late though it was he
must be taken before the Commander-in-chief, General Katsuyori, at once.
Bloodstained and travel-worn Katsutaka presented a pitiable sight when,
roused from his slumbers, the general surveyed him by the imperfect
light of a lantern. Yet there was something in the bearing of the man
that called forth a feeling of admiration for his courage rather than
compassion for his condition and circumstances.
“Your name?” said the general.
Having no motive now for concealment Katsutaka spoke out boldly.
“Torii Katsutaka, retainer of Lord Okudaira Sadamasa, Governor of the
Castle of Nagashino.”
“You have been to Okazaki, for reinforcements, and fired these shots
from the top of Mt. Funatsuki by a prearranged plan. Is it not so?”
“It is so, Your Excellency.”
“It was a hazardous errand. You must tell me later how you managed
to creep through our lines. I know how to appreciate and reward
bravery, and would like to number you among my men. If you will come
over to us I will give you a yearly stipend of 1,000 _koku_[4] of rice.
If you refuse you die.”
Pretending to be pleased with the offer Katsutaka accepted it with many
expressions of gratitude. He was thinking that by doing this he might
put his captors off their guard and be able to escape, or in some way
render a service to those shut up in the castle.
“You do me too much honour, Your Excellency,” he said. “I am but a
humble private but I will use all diligence to serve you faithfully.”
“I am glad you are troubled by no foolish scruples as to desertion,”
said the general, who nevertheless was somewhat surprised at the ready
acceptance of his proposal. “There is something I desire you to do at
once to prove your sincerity.”
In a low voice General Katsuyori gave an order to an _aide-de-camp_,
who retired and after a little time came back with a written paper
which he handed to his chief. It purported to be a letter from
Sadayoshi to his son, informing him that, on account of a sudden
outbreak of insurrection, Lord Tokugawa was unable to despatch troops
to the relief of the Castle of Nagashino and that there was nothing to
be done but to give it up on the best terms available. The letter was
a skilful imitation of Sadayoshi’s hand, for it had been written by an
officer who had once served under him and who was well acquainted with
his style.