IRA TAKAMASA

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5, 3 February 1906, Page 42

IRA TAKAMASA

By

J. Sackville Martin

IN the days of the great Emperor, Taiko Sama, whom the foreign priests speak of as Quibaeondono, Yoshida no kuni was lord of the

province of Rikuchiu. in the kingdom of dapan. lie was warlike in disposition. cruel and amorous; so that no man was safe from his anger, and no woman from his kindness. lhe peasants hated and feared .him, for he ground them with taxes so tha.t the land they cultivated was of no profit to them. Those who were unable to satisfy his extortionate demands he treated with infamous cruelty, arraying them

in the straw coats usual for winter wear, and so setting fire to them. He ruled unchecked iu the province; for Osaka was far away, and the Emperor busied with foreign wars. He lived in his castle at Myako, surrounded by. a- great army of samurai, fierce men skilled iu the use of the double-handed sword and the bow. With these he made constant war against the barbarous Ainus of the northward marches. It was liis boast that he protected the country front these barbarians, yet it may be questioned whether the peasantry who lived in the shadow of his dominion could have fared worse at their hands than they did at bis. - - -

Among ail his retainers none were more daring, none bolder in war, and none more cruel than Ira Takamasa. He was a man after his master’s heart, and if the lord of Myako coveted the house, or the land, .or. the wife of any of his dependents. Ira Takamasa made no scruple of obtaining these things for him. and this, though he. himself, being older than the dirimyo. was a man of strict life, living alone, his wife being dead.-and his only daughter, a girl named O Min. recently married to a young warrior, Ichida Yoshihisa. Because of his compliance with his lord’s wishes he received many gifts and grew to be a rich man.

For long he obeyed the behests of his master and his affairs prospered. Then one morning trouble came upon him as he went in the train of the daimyo down through the village street to bathe in the sea. It chanced that they passed the house where Ichida dwelt with his wife. It was summer, and on the balcony clustered great masses of scarlet peonies, and from the midst of them O Min looked down upon the street as the sun looks out among finished clouds in the morning as it rises from the sea. The daitnyo looked up and saw her, and called Ira to his side. ‘•Who is yonder girl who looks down upon us?” he asked. "She is fairer than any woman I have ever seen. Find out from whence she comes and bring me word, that I may-speak with her parents' concerning her.” When Ira heard this he was greatly troubled; for he knew his duty to the daimyo. suid knew also his own danger should he hesitate in obeying the command. But he hid his fear, and answered with' a smooth brow. - • Honorable lord. ’ he said, “let not your eye rest twice upon her. for indeed she is but plain of feature and not worthy to he compared with many others who live not far from you. Also she is the wife of a faithful samurai who follows your fortunes. And it wete shame to do aught that should offend him.” - - • The daitnyo was silent for a moment. Then he said: “And what is the name of this warrior of ours who is the unfortunate possessor of so much beauty?” ■ His name is Ichida Yoshihisa.” The daimyo smiled cruelly. “In' that ease," he answered, “most' happy is’lchido 'Yoshihisa. and "it were ill done to deprive him of so beautiful a wife. Y’et what man can truly say that he is

happy, knowing not what the gods may have in store for hint? It may chance that he may attain the honour of a glorious death in battle. In which case he were happy indeed. And because such a ehance may befall 1 would'speak with, the woman's parents.” Ira read the daimyo’s meaning well enough in spite of his smooth words, for this was' not the first time that an inconvenient husband or father’ had been removed. But he still replied with unruffled composure:. ‘‘That is soon done,” he said, ‘‘for the father of the girl you speak of stands before you.” Then the daimyo smiled, and spoke with dissembling politeness, saying courteously: “A man does not willingly injure his own right arm, and how, then, should I hurt your honour? I pray you, therefore, let us speak no more about the matter.’* But privately, he sent fcr Yoshihisa and commissioned him to lead a party of warriors into the country of the Ainus, telling him not to engage in combat, but to spy out- their dispositions, and. above all things, to come baek to him safely, for he valued his life above his own sword. But to another of his men who went as second in command he gave strict orders that lehida was not to be permitted to return, but to be slain among the Ainus, and the blame laid on that people. lehida felt himself greatly honoured by the flattering sayings of his lord, and, getting his men together and saying farewell to his wife, who loved him very deeply, ami wept at his going forth, he marched out upon the enterprise from which he was never to return. While these things were being accomplished Ira Takamasa was away on business concerning the daimyo, but on his return to Myako he heard of what had happened, and suspected what the fate of his son-in-law was likely to be. And lie was the less surprised when after many days the expedition returned, bringing with him the news that their leader had perished in combat in the Ainu country. Yoshida-no-kuni smiled to himself, seeing his commands so well obeyed, but outwardly he affected great concern, and sorrowed for his loss. At the expiraticn of some days he called Ira to him and said:— “I pray you, since your daughter is now a widow, bid her to array herself fittingly and come up to the castle, wliere. she shall have apartments assigned to her.” When Ira heard this command he was filled with sorrow for his daughter, aud anger and resentment in that he who had always served, the daimyo faithfully should lie exposed to such dishonour. And casting about in his mind for some cause why this injury should have come upon him. he perceived for the first time that he himself had greatly offended in that he had helped to bring upon others the shame that was now coming to his house. He said no word, but turned to leave the daimyo’s presence, and took his way to the house of his widowed daughter, whom he found in her house, kneeling before the little shrine which she had set up to her departed husband. “O Min.” he said gravely. “Yoshida-no-kuni, our lord.’-has seen your beauty, and bids you prepare yourself to go to his palace, where you are . to-have apartments assigned to you” She hiked up at him with terror in ■ her eyes. ‘‘Tile period of mourning for my husband is not yet over,” she said. “I know it,” he replied/ : “yet’sueh is his command.” „ She rose and bowed' to him. “Al/ father.” she said slowly, “to-night my spirit shall travel to the Meido to seek iny husband there. And .for my body, you may bear it’ to tlie daimyo if you will.” He looked al her with a. great pride. “I see, my daughter,” he said, “that the honour of our name is safe in your

hands. I will tell the daimyo that ho may expect you. and this evening will bring bearers and a litter. When he had gone O Min zrose, and put on fresh garments of mourning white. She dressed her hair in the widow’s fashion, and then, kneeling before the little shrine, she stabbed herself. When Ira returned, to find her dead, he laid her in the litter, and gave the bearers their orders to proceed towards the castle.' He himself preceded them, anil entered the hall where Yoshida was sitting a lit:lc in advance of the cortege. “Great lord.” he said, “my daughter comes in obedience to your august commands.” Yoshida started up eagerly as the cortege entered the hall, bearing the body of the young wife. She looked very pure and white as she lay dead, her face framed among its coils of dark hair. Yoshida started back as though he had seen a snake, and Ira, standing over against him cn the opposite side of the bier, drew his sword. “Behold." he cried, “a sword drawn, many times in your service—and in that service never to be drawn again.” And when he had finished speaking he took the sword and broke it across bis knee and threw: the pieces away from him, and fled forth into the night. Ira fled northwards, making for the country of the Ainus, where his son-in-law had been, slain. He knew that, should he fall into the hands of his late lord, ho had nothing else to expect than death. Yet he was quite without fear, for all that he had to bind him to life was behind him in the grave, and only the wish for vengeance kept him from self-destruction. That craving kept pace with him. stalking beside him like a phantom through desolate places. The winter was approaching, and he wandered among the hills amid cutting winds and driving sleet. His sodden garments hung cold on his limbs, the blade of his shorter sword—the only ' one left to him—stung him where it touched his flesh as though it had been red-hot. As the days wore on the wind abated a little, it grew warmer, and snow began to fall. And presently the hills were covered with a white quilt, beneath which they might settle, as a man settles them beneath the futon for his sleep. It became impossible to find food, aud he staggered onwards in the half-dreamy state of semi-starva-tion that lets the body down by easy stages to its death. But the snow which was the cause of his misery became the instrument of his salvation; for on the fifth day it showed him footprints, and he followed them in the hope of finding human beings from whom he might ask succour. The footprints led him to a deep cleft Ist ween two hills. That which lay upon his right hand had precipitous and overhanging sides, and in the face of the rock was hollowed a great cave. Here he came upon a tribe of Ainus, men .and women, and children, clad in costumes of shaggy skins. Hie men bearded and hairy, the women , squat and ugly, with long, black hair falling over them like a torrent.. They seemed to have just finished one of their religious ceremonies, for in the centre of the eave was the carcase of a huge bear, transfixed .with arrows. They had been praying to the creature, and now were about, to finish the rite by skinning and eating it. A large wood fire blazed in one corner of the. cave, its smoke being carried up by a natural cleft in the roek. (hr seeing Ira, one who seemed to be acting as sentinel ' set up a shrill’crji, and at the sound the others turned and stared in the direction from which he was advancing. As Tie approached, they formed themselves into a semicircle Io await his coming, and one, who appeared to be their leader, stepped otit before them, and looked Jong amt closely at Ira. As he ’ oked, his face set in a frown, for he

knew the man who was coming toward him for an enemy. He addressed him, speaking with some difficulty in the Japanese tongue.- _ . . “What brings you here?”-he asked. ; Ira Takamass raised his head and looked around him. Want had dazed his faculties, and though he knew he ■was among foes, he eould only answer automatically. • “1 wish for food and shelter,’’ he said.

“You are not unknown to me," replied the Ainu chief, “and for an oppressor of our people. Yet now you ask us for food.” . “1 have indeed been your enemy in times gone by,’’ answered Ira, “yet now 1 come to you an outcast from my own land. And this 1 swear—that it you will accept me, 1 will light tor you even as 1 have fought against you; tor the lord whom 1 served has wronged me, and 1 live only for vengeance upon him.”

When lie heard these words, the Aura chief turned to his followers and spoke with them in their own tongue, and in a moment they were crowding around Ira, arid drawing him to the tire. They stripped oil his wet clothes and rubbed Iris frozen limbs, and tearing llesh from the bear, they roasted it among the embers and'gave to him to cat'. With the warmth and sense of repletion there came upon him an uncontrollable desire for slumber, and he same into a deep sleep.

~ Freni that time Ira Takamasa abode with the Ainus, 'ami when the -spring was come again he taught them miuy ot the arts of war as practised by the Japanese, lie taught them how to make bows longer and more powerful than those which they possessed, and explained to them the advantages ot drawing, an enemy far into tnetr own country, where they might surround him with superior forces and so cut them off froni help. For this they honoured him and made him a judge amongst them, so that any who felt themselves harshly used came to him bearing their complaints. )\nd because he had himself felt the hand ot injustice, and because he fell that he himself had something to atone for, he held the balance fairly between them, and all men knew that what he did was rigid. ■ But though lie ruled them in justice and mercy, he never forgot Iris purpose of vengeance against his late lord, and ns the summer went on he gathered the young men into bands and harried the country to the southward with tire and sword. Yoshida did not know to_wha,t hand he owed a renewal ot the Ainu activity. But as time went on, and reports reached him of a hurn'ng cast io here, c-r a party of his followers destroyed there, he became fiercely angry, and determined ti go at the head of a strong force into the Amu country that he might, chastise these people who had been so insolent.

lie assembled his forces at Myako, and marched - northwards for . many days. . But tr.a,. -who had had word ot Iris mining, instructed his men to refire before him, ami Yoshida, pursuing them, was led far into the heart of the .unknown land. At length he came to that defile between the hills where Ira had first found food and shelter. Ills scouts reported to him that'there was a large 'encampment of the Ainu folk at the further end ot the (lelile, and that it he pushed on rapidly .c was probable that he might, take them by surprise and put them all to the sword. I heir advice pleased- him and’ he entered tire defile with the whole of his army.

- The Ainus had been expecting him. As he came nearer he found their forces strongly posted in excellent defensive positions and knew that they were directed by some warrior skilled in the arts of war. And while he consulted -with his officers how best'he might-at-tack- them, another and a still larger force appeared in his rear, mocking the defile, whilst from above men began to hurl down great stones, and -he saw that he had fallen into a trap. i It seemed best to him to attempt to cut his way through the forces opposing him in front, leaving a small force to detain the army in the rear. But he was met by a resistance tar superior to anything he had before experienced in this border warfare, and the rearguard was driven- in, while stones fell

like hail upon .the heads of his followers.. Thus trapped, they had little chance, and died fighting furiously, hacking with their .swords amt clutching desperately at ,their enemy, fastening upon them with teeth arid* nails. Yo-

shida himself, in the middle of the light, saw that the day was hopeless, and had determined to seek an honorable death upon his own sword, when a-stone 'hurled-from abSve caugltt him on the temple and stretched him senseless upon' the field.

When he came to himself he was bound in the eave where Ira had found shelter. He opened his eyes feebly to see Ira himself sitting over against him, watching for any' sign of movement. When Ira saw that he had returned to consciousness, he rose and came towards him.

“Welcome, my lord,” he sail bitterly; “your servant Ira I'akamasa bids you welcome, and would humbly endeavour to repay some of those favours, winch you did* to him and to his house when he was in your .service.”. Yoshida was a brave . man, and he struggled to sit upright as he answered :

"1 had intfecd a servant of the name,” he said, “and 1 cannot deny that 1 did him much wrong. But 1 do not recognise him in a rebel and a traitor to his country.”

"You speak boldly,” replied Ira, "and yet one might think that you had cause fur fear lest you share the fate of your comrades.'’

"1 wish nothing better,’’ replied Yoshida firmly. “Where are they’:’ "They lie in the val ey,” was the reply. “Call them and see if they- an : swer. They are very still, and the kites are hastening towards them. ’

Yoshida rese as welt as his bonds would permit him. “Give me my sword, then,’ he said, "and 1 will go after them.”

Ira’s face softened. “I nev. r doubted your courage,” lie said, “yet 1 begged your life of the tribe, and came here intending to take' it. But if you tear not death my vengeance is gone from me.'’

“Do as you will,” replied Yoshida calmly. “1 did you wrong, an t though 1 repent it, 1 do not do so in fear.' “1 have learned something among these people,” replied Ira; “and if you ’were- guilty towards me, i also wronged others at your command. Here 1 have done justice and 1 am honoured. So you shall not die, but shall live to sec how they honour me in order that when you go hack to your own peopleyou shall do among them wliat 1 have done here.” So fra loosed his bqmls and led him from the eave. (And Yoshida dwelt -with him among the Ainus for many clays. He saw that Ira was loved and reverenced among them. He saw men and women come to him for justice and abide by Ins word. He saw Hie bravo rewarded and the evil-doer punished: arid us he marked all this he became daily more thoughtful. At length there came a day- when Ira stood before him with two men of th* tribe. “These men,” he said, “ have charge to sec you back across-the border-into your own country. Unee there,, they will leave yen, and you must find your way to .Myako alone.” The daiiriyo looked at him steadily. “Come back with me,” he said. “Come back to your own people, and teach me to do there what 1 have seen here." "-My work is hero,” replied fra sadly. “1 must not leave it.' “You shall be honoured above alt men,” said the ilaimyo. “I cannot,” answered Ira. “Since my daughter's death, these are riiy people.” r -“At least,” cried Yoshida, "return and pay honour at her grave.” For a moment Ira hesitated; then he turned away. "1 must not leave the task 1 have set my hand to,” he said, “but do -you pay honour to it for me.” One of the men- touched the daimyo on the shoulder. He turned and- followed them. They took their way southwards.’ and at. the turn of the valley Yoshida, looking back, saw upon the hillside the lonely figure of the - man who had in turn been his servant anil his master, and wondered what his thoughts might be. -But fra was thinking of a .grave, arid of the strange manner of his vengeance upon the man through whose action it had been dug.