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mountains of that province； darkness overcame him in a very lonesome
district； leagues away from any village。 So he resigned himself to pass the
night under the stars； and having found a suitable grassy spot； by the
roadside； he lay down there； and prepared to sleep。 He had always
welcomed discomfort； and even a bare rock was for him a good bed； when
nothing better could be found； and the root of a pine…tree an excellent
pillow。 His body was iron； and he never troubled himself about dews or
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rain or frost or snow。
Scarcely had he lain down when a man came along the road； carrying
an axe and a great bundle of chopped wood。 This woodcutter halted on
seeing Kwairyo lying down； and； after a moment of silent observation；
said to him in a tone of great surprise：
〃What kind of a man can you be； good Sir； that you dare to lie down
alone in such a place as this？。。。 There are haunters about here； many of
them。 are you not afraid of Hairy Things？〃
〃My friend；〃 cheerfully answered Kwairyo； 〃I am only a wandering
priest； a 'Cloud…and…Water…Guest；' as folks call it： Unsui…no…ryokaku。 （2）
And I am not in the least afraid of Hairy Things； if you mean goblin…
foxes； or goblin…badgers； or any creatures of that kind。 As for lonesome
places； I like them： they are suitable for meditation。 I am accustomed to
sleeping in the open air： and I have learned never to be anxious aboutmy
life。〃
〃You must be indeed a brave man； Sir Priest；〃 the peasant responded；
〃to lie down here！ This place has a bad name； a very bad name。 But； as
the proverb has it； Kunshi ayayuki ni chikayorazu ＇'The superior man does
not needlessly expose himself to peril'＇； and I must assure you； Sir； that it
is very dangerous to sleep here。 Therefore； although my house is only a
wretched thatched hut； let me beg of you to come home with me at once。
In the way of food； I have nothing to offer you； but there is a roof at least；
and you can sleep under it without risk。〃
He spoke earnestly； and Kwairyo； liking the kindly tone of the man；
accepted this modest offer。 The woodcutter guided him along a narrow
path； leading up from the main road through mountain…forest。 It was a
rough and dangerous path； sometimes skirting precipices； sometimes
offering nothing but a network of slippery roots for the foot to rest upon；
sometimes winding over or between masses of jagged rock。 But at last
Kwairyo found himself upon a cleared space at the top of a hill； with a full
moon shining overhead； and he saw before him a small thatched cottage；
cheerfully lighted from within。 The woodcutter led him to a shed at the
back of the house； whither water had been conducted； through bamboo…
pipes； from some neighboring stream； and the two men washed their feet。
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Beyond the shed was a vegetable garden； and a grove of cedars and
bamboos； and beyond the trees appeared the glimmer of a cascade；
pouring from some loftier height； and swaying in the moonshine like a
long white robe。
As Kwairyo entered the cottage with his guide； he perceived four
persons men and women warming their hands at a little fire kindled in
the ro ＇1＇ of the principle apartment。 They bowed low to the priest； and
greeted him in the most respectful manner。 Kwairyo wondered that
persons so poor； and dwelling in such a solitude； should be aware of the
polite forms of greeting。 〃These are good people；〃 he thought to himself；
〃and they must have been taught by some one well acquainted with the
rules of propriety。〃 Then turning to his host； the aruji； or house…master；
as the others called him； Kwairyo said：
〃From the kindness of your speech； and from the very polite welcome
given me by your household； I imagine that you have not always been a
woodcutter。 Perhaps you formerly belonged to one of the upper classes？〃
Smiling； the woodcutter answered：
〃Sir； you are not mistaken。 Though now living as you find me； I was
once a person of some distinction。 My story is the story of a ruined life
ruined by my own fault。 I used to be in the service of a daimyo； and my
rank in that service was not inconsiderable。 But I loved women and wine
too well； and under the influence of passion I acted wickedly。 My
selfishness brought about the ruin of our house； and caused the death of
many persons。 Retribution followed me； and I long remained a fugitive in
the land。 Now I often pray that I may be able to make some atonement for
the evil which I did； and to reestablish the ancestral home。 But I fear that I
shall never find any way of so doing。 Nevertheless； I try to overcome the
karma of my errors by sincere repentance； and by helping as afar as I can；
those who are unfortunate。〃
Kwairyo was pleased by this announcement of good resolve； and he
said to the aruji：
〃My friend； I have had occasion to observe that man； prone to folly in
their youth； may in after years become very earnest in right living。 In the
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holy sutras it is written that those strongest in wrong…doing can become；
by power of good resolve； the strongest in right…doing。 I do not doubt that
you have a good heart； and I hope that better fortune will come to you。 To…
night I shall recite the sutras for your sake； and pray that you may obtain
the force to overcome the karma of any past errors。〃
With these assurances； Kwairyo bade the aruji good…night； and his
host showed him to a very small side…room； where a bed had been made
ready。 Then all went to sleep except the priest； who began to read the
sutras by the light of a paper lantern。 Until a late hour he continued to read
and pray： then he opened a little window in his little sleeping…room； to
take a last look at the landscape before lying down。 The night was
beautiful： there was no cloud in the sky： there was no wind； and the strong
moonlight threw down sharp black shadows of foliage； and glittered on the
dews of the garden。 Shrillings of cric