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After he had been helped to mount several stone steps； upon the last of
which he was told to leave his sandals； a woman's hand guided him along
interminable reaches of polished planking； and round pillared angles too
many to remember； and over widths amazing of matted floor； into the
middle of some vast apartment。 There he thought that many great people
were assembled： the sound of the rustling of silk was like the sound of
leaves in a forest。 He heard also a great humming of voices； talking in
undertones； and the speech was the speech of courts。
Hoichi was told to put himself at ease； and he found a kneeling…
cushion ready for him。 After having taken his place upon it； and tuned his
instrument； the voice of a woman whom he divined to be the Rojo； or
matron in charge of the female service addressed him； saying；
〃It is now required that the history of the Heike be recited； to the
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
accompaniment of the biwa。〃
Now the entire recital would have required a time of many nights：
therefore Hoichi ventured a question：
〃As the whole of the story is not soon told； what portion is it augustly
desired that I now recite？〃
The woman's voice made answer：
〃Recite the story of the battle at Dan…no…ura； for the pity of it is the
most deep。〃 ＇5＇
Then Hoichi lifted up his voice； and chanted the chant of the fight on
the bitter sea； wonderfully making his biwa to sound like the straining of
oars and the rushing of ships； the whirr and the hissing of arrows； the
shouting and trampling of men； the crashing of steel upon helmets； the
plunging of slain in the flood。 And to left and right of him； in the pauses of
his playing； he could hear voices murmuring praise： 〃How marvelous an
artist！〃 〃Never in our own province was playing heard like this！〃 〃Not
in all the empire is there another singer like Hoichi！〃 Then fresh courage
came to him； and he played and sang yet better than before； and a hush of
wonder deepened about him。 But when at last he came to tell the fate of
the fair and helpless； the piteous perishing of the women and children；
and the death…leap of Nii…no…Ama； with the imperial infant in her arms；
then all the listeners uttered together one long； long shuddering cry of
anguish； and thereafter they wept and wailed so loudly and so wildly that
the blind man was frightened by the violence and grief that he had made。
For much time the sobbing and the wailing continued。 But gradually the
sounds of lamentation died away； and again； in the great stillness that
followed； Hoichi heard the voice of the woman whom he supposed to be
the Rojo。
She said：
〃Although we had been assured that you were a very skillful player
upon the biwa； and without an equal in recitative； we did not know that
any one could be so skillful as you have proved yourself to…night。 Our lord
has been pleased to say that he intends to bestow upon you a fitting reward。
But he desires that you shall perform before him once every night for the
next six nights after which time he will probably make his august
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return…journey。 To…morrow night； therefore； you are to come here at the
same hour。 The retainer who to…night conducted you will be sent for you。。。
There is another matter about which I have been ordered to inform you。 It
is required that you shall speak to no one of your visits here； during the
time of our lord's august sojourn at Akamagaseki。 As he is traveling
incognito； ＇6＇ he commands that no mention of these things be made。。。
You are now free to go back to your temple。〃
After Hoichi had duly expressed his thanks； a woman's hand
conducted him to the entrance of the house； where the same retainer； who
had before guided him； was waiting to take him home。 The retainer led
him to the verandah at the rear of the temple； and there bade him farewell。
It was almost dawn when Hoichi returned； but his absence from the
temple had not been observed； as the priest； coming back at a very late
hour； had supposed him asleep。 During the day Hoichi was able to take
some rest； and he said nothing about his strange adventure。 In the middle
of the following night the samurai again came for him； and led him to the
august assembly； where he gave another recitation with the same success
that had attended his previous performance。 But during this second visit
his absence from the temple was accidentally discovered； and after his
return in the morning he was summoned to the presence of the priest； who
said to him； in a tone of kindly reproach：
〃We have been very anxious about you； friend Hoichi。 To go out；
blind and alone； at so late an hour； is dangerous。 Why did you go without
telling us？ I could have ordered a servant to accompany you。 And where
have you been？〃
Hoichi answered； evasively；
〃Pardon me kind friend！ I had to attend to some private business； and
I could not arrange the matter at any other hour。〃
The priest was surprised； rather than pained； by Hoichi's reticence： he
felt it to be unnatural； and suspected something wrong。 He feared that the
blind lad had been bewitched or deluded by some evil spirits。 He did not
ask any more questions； but he privately instructed the men…servants of the
temple to keep watch upon Hoichi's movements； and to follow him in case
that he should again leave the temple after dark。
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On the very next night； Hoichi was seen to leave the temple； and the
servants immediately lighted their lanterns； and followed after him。 But it
was a rainy night； and very dark； and before the temple…folks could get to
the roadway； Hoichi had disappeared。 Evidently he had walked very fast；
a strange thing； considering his blindness； for the road was in a bad
condition。 The men hurried through the streets； making inquiries at every
house which Hoichi was accustomed to visit； but nobody could give them
any news of him。 At last； as they were returning to the temple by way of
the shore； they were startled by the sound of a biwa； furiously played； i