CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PRINCIPALITY OF NAGATO.
At the beginning of hostilities, Fatkoura, according to the arrangementmade by the Prince, had been despatched to Hagui, the castle of herbetrothed, under an escort provided by the Queen, to protect her fromthe dangers of the road. She also took all her household. In the midstof her despair and disappointed love, she felt a cruel pleasure. "Thereare three of us miserable now," she thought. She had agreed to marrythe Prince, with an idea of being avenged. Besides, how could sherefuse? The Kisaki had ordered the marriage, nobly sacrificing her ownunacknowledged love; moreover, everybody in the palace knew Fatkoura'sfeeling for the Prince of Nagato. She had revealed it unhesitatingly,in the pride of her joy, when she thought herself beloved. She leftthe Court hastily, tired of wearing a smiling mask before her friends,whose congratulations overwhelmed her.
During the journey, she saw nothing of the lovely country through whichshe passed. She kept her eyes fixed on the matting of her norimono, hergrief growing ever more profound. Sometimes she sent for Tika; and thegirl would crouch down opposite her, and gaze at her with anxious pity,trying to rouse her from her melancholy revery.
"Just see, mistress!" she would say; "see what a pretty river, thecolor of absinthe, runs between those velvety hills. Every shade ofgreen is to be found there,--the green of the pale willow, of thedark cypress, of the silvery birch, of the turf, bright as an emerald;each adds its varying hue. And look, the moss, to make that green too,has crept all over the water-mill, whose image is reflected in thewater. And yonder those reeds# which look like swords, and those ducks,flapping their wings and flying away with necks outstretched,--they areas green as is the rest of the landscape."
Fatkoura did not heed her.
"He will come back to you," said Tika, giving up all hope of turningthe thoughts of her mistress from her persistent grief; "when you arehis wife he will love you again, you are so beautiful."
"He never loved me, and I don't want him to love me," said Fatkoura;"for I hate him."
Tika sighed.
"I have but one pleasure, and that is to know that he suffers; thatshe too--she who crushes me by her power and her matchless beauty--isdevoured by sorrow. They love, and they may not confess it. I am oneobstacle the more between them. The Mikado might have died; then shecould have married him."
"A Kisaki! marry a prince!" exclaimed Tika.
"You forget," said Fatkoura, "that Nagato's ancestor was next inrank to the Mikado. Iwakura's crest still proclaims the fact, for itconsists of two Chinese characters, meaning: 'The highest rank.' In thedays when I loved the Prince of Nagato, the Son of the Gods himselfcould not have driven him from my heart."
"You love him more than ever," murmured Tika.
Sometimes Fatkoura was moved with pity for her own fate. She recalledthe time when the delight of being loved filled her soul; and she weptbitterly. But tears failed to comfort her.
"I am a fool!" she said; "I long to weep upon his shoulder; I fainwould pour out my anguish to his cold and cruel heart!"
Then her anger grew strong within her once more.
At last she reached the town of Hagui, situated on the shores of theJapanese Sea. She entered the superb gateway of the ancient fortressof the Princes of Nagato. In the first courtyard Iwakura's father cameforward to meet her, and greeted her kindly, saying: "Welcome to yourhome, Princess of Nagato." Though sixty years old, he was straight andstrong. In the nobility of his features the young woman traced somelikeness to Iwakura. The Prince had abdicated in favor of his eldestson some years before; he now devoted himself to the education of hisyoungest boy, a lad of thirteen, who stood beside him, and upon whosehead his hand rested.
Fatkoura was forced to smile and seem cheerful. She hid her mouthbehind her sleeve, with that modest and affectionate gesture familiarto Japanese women; then she knelt for a moment at the Prince's feet.He treated her in a fatherly manner,--made her splendid presents,installed her in the state apartments, showed her his domains, gaveentertainments for her, and got up hunting parties in her honor.
Fatkoura experienced a strange emotion amid these surroundings, whichso vividly recalled her betrothed. She saw the room in which he wasborn; the playthings broken by his childish hands; his first clothes,which still retained the impress of a figure graceful even then. Shewas told a thousand pretty anecdotes of his adored infancy; then theheroic deeds of the boy and man, his literary triumphs, the nobilityof his soul, his goodness and devotion. The old Prince never weariedof the tale; and the father's love tortured and increased the woman'sunhappy passion. Then a sort of resignation came to her. By dintof hiding her grief she buried it in the depths of her soul, anddiminished it. She tried to forget that she was not beloved; she foundcomfort in the strength of her own affection.
"I love," she would say to herself; "that is enough. I will be contentto see him, to hear his voice, to bear his name. I will be patient.Time, perhaps, may cure his passion. Then he will take pity on my longsuffering; he will remember all that I have endured for his sake;his heart will be softened; he will love me. I shall end my days inhappiness with him; I shall be the mother of his children."
When the rumors of war were confirmed, anxiety took possession of allhearts; the life of the absent one was in danger.
"Where is he at this moment?" asked Fatkoura.
"He is at the most perilous post, I am sure," replied the old nobleman.He said this with pride, holding his head erect; but his voicetrembled, and tears stood in his eyes.
Then more details reached the castle. The Princes of Figo and Tosathreatened Osaka, and also the province of Nagato. Iwakura's fatherraised an army, and despatched troops to the frontier. "We have oneally, the Prince of Aki," said he; "besides, we shall not be attacked.No one has a grudge against us.".
He was mistaken. The soldiers sent forward by him had not yet reachedthe limits of the kingdom, when the Prince of Tosa landed on the shoresof the inland sea. Full of alarm, the Prince sent a deputation to hisneighbor, the lord of Aki, who declared that he intended to remainneutral in the war.
"He is a traitor, an infamous wretch!" cried old Nagato, when hisenvoys brought him back this answer. "Well, we will defend ourselvesunaided,--with no hope of victory, to be sure, but with the certaintythat we shall not dim the lustre of our former glory."
When he was alone with Fatkoura, the Prince let all his despondencyappear.
"I pray," said he, "that my son may remain with the Shogun, and notreturn here. Attacked by these powers, we cannot possibly conquer. Ifhe were here, he would rush to his death; and who would avenge us then?"
A party of horsemen now entered the castle. The Prince turned pale ashe saw them. They wore Nagato's crest upon their shields.
"Do you bring news of my son?" he asked, in an unsteady voice.
"Illustrious lord, the Prince of Nagato is in good health," said aSamurai. "He is at this moment on the borders of the kingdom, busyrallying the army around him. He intends to march against the Prince ofFigo."
"Aki has betrayed us; does my son know that?" said the Prince.
"He knows it, master. The Prince passed through the province subject tothat wretch; he supposed him friendly, but was treacherously attacked.Thanks to his unequalled bravery, he scattered his assailants; but halfhis baggage was lost."
"What orders did he send us through you?"
"These, sire: the Prince of Nagato begs you to levy an extra number oftroops and despatch them to meet the Prince of Tosa, who is advancingtowards Chozan; then to double the defenders of the fortress, takein large supplies of provisions, and shut yourself up in it; he alsorequests that you will put me in command of the troops sent againstTosa."
These orders were at once executed.
One event followed another in rapid succession. Other messengersarrived. The Prince of Nagato gave battle in the northern part of thekingdom, in the territory of Suwo; the lord of Suwo, a vassal of thePrince of Aki, favored the landing of Figo's men. But Iwakura defea
tedthese troops on the inland sea; many were drowned, others took refugeon board the ships lying at anchor. Meantime the lord of Suwo's littlearmy attacked the Prince in the rear, trying to cut him off from theprovince of Nagato; but the army was completely routed, and the Princewas able to regain his kingdom.
Then Figo, supported by fresh forces, reappeared on the outskirts ofNagato; and Iwakura prepared to repulse a second attack.
But while the Prince of Nagato triumphed in the northern part of hisdomains, the Prince of Tosa invaded them on the south.
The province of Nagato, the extreme point of the Island of Nipon, isbounded on three sides by the sea,--on the south-east by the inland seadivided from the Pacific Ocean by the islands of Shikoku and Kiu-Shiu;on the west by the Straits of Corea; on the north by the Japan Sea; andon the east a mountain chain separates it from the principalities ofSuwo and Aki.
The Prince of Tosa came from the Island of Shikoku by way of the BungoChannel, crossing the inland sea directly to Chozan. His plan was tomarch through the province straight upon Hagui, the capital, situatedon the other side, upon the shores of the Japan Sea.
Tosa encountered the troops hastily levied and sent to the front bythe old lord of Nagato; but those raw recruits gave way before thewell-trained army of the invader, and beating a retreat, fell back uponHagui. Preparations were then made to maintain a siege.
The stronghold stood some distance from the town, upon an eminencesurrounded by a moat; from the top of its towers could be seen thefields and the sea.
Tosa's army soon covered the plain. The old lord watched it from thefortress.
"My daughter," said he to Fatkoura, "I wish you had stayed in Kioto!"
"Father," replied the young woman, "it is my duty and my pleasure to behere in my husband's castle, when it is in danger."
Moreover her peril distressed her but little. Her anger was dead;she felt nothing now but love; she trembled for her dear one's life;frightful anguish rent her soul. The arrival of a messenger did notallay her fears.
"Since that man left him," she thought, "he might have died twentytimes over."
But the castle was blockaded; messengers could no longer reach them.
The town made a brave resistance, but was captured on the fifth day;then began the siege of the stronghold. The Prince of Tosa himselfdirected the siege.
The enemy first constructed a long roof of wood, covered with plates ofiron; then they raised it upon very tall posts, to which they fastenedit. This formed a species of penthouse, which they placed in the moat.They then brought earth, stones, and brushwood, which they flung intothe water. The arrows aimed at them rebounded from the roof of thepenthouse. Huge blocks of stone were hurled from the castle on thehill, to crush this dangerous refuge; but their force was deadened asthey rolled, and most of them fell into the moat,--only serving to helpthe besieging party in their labor, as they quietly went on filling upa portion of the moat, under the sheltering roof which they had built.No more projectiles were therefore thrown from the ramparts.
The soldiers made a sally; and marching down the road which windsaround the hill like a ribbon, approached the moat. To reach the pointwhere the foe was at work, they were forced to quit the road, protectedby a double row of cypress-trees, and march across the slipperygrass which carpeted the steep slope of the hill. The soldiers didtheir best; but they found it almost impossible to fire under thesecircumstances, while they themselves afforded a fine target to theiradversaries. The wounded rolled down hill and fell into the moat.
Nagato's men gave up the attempt perforce, and returned to the castle.The enemy finished their work without any trouble; making a broad dyketo the foot of the hill, over which the army might pass.
They then stormed the fortress, which resisted bravely, and refused tosurrender. The besieged party fought to the last upon, the crumblingwalls. The victors rushed in, threw open the doors, let down thebridge; and the Prince of Tosa entered the castle of Nagato to thesound of triumphal music.
The sight which met his eyes in the first courtyard which he entered,affected him most disagreeably. There had been no time to bury thedead, who had been collected in this court, in a sitting posture,their backs against the wall. There were nearly a hundred bodies, withgreenish faces, gaping mouths, and staring eyes, their arms hanginglimp; they were terrible to behold.
The Prince of Tosa fancied that they glared at him, and forbade him toenter. As he was superstitious, he was on the point of turning back.But he soon mastered his weakness, went on into an inner hall of thepalace, and ordered the old lord, his women, children, and entirehousehold, to be brought before him. They soon appeared.
There were aged women, some accompanying a decrepit father, younggirls, and children. The lord of the castle came forward, leading hisson, and followed by Fatkoura.
"If you wish to destroy these women," said old Nagato, looking at Tosawith scorn, "say so at once, that I may curse you, and call down everypossible affliction upon your head."
"What do I care, whether they live or die?" cried Tosa. "You yourself,having abdicated, count for nothing, and I spare your gray hairs.I seek among you a hostage of sufficient value to guarantee thesubmission of the Prince of Nagato; for, having won the victory, Icannot remain upon his lands. The war summons me in another direction.Which shall I take," he continued,--"the son, or the father? The childis very young yet, and of no importance; for want of a better, I willcarry off the father."
"Take me with him then!" exclaimed the boy.
Suddenly Fatkoura stepped forward.
"Since you think his father too old, and his brother too young," shecried, "take captive the sovereign's wife, if you consider her worthyregret."
"Certainly I will take you; for you must be passionately loved," saidTosa, struck by Fatkoura's beauty.
"Why have you betrayed yourself, my daughter?" muttered old Nagato."Why not let me go?"
"Is she really Iwakura's wife?" asked the conqueror, stirred by adoubt. "I command you to give me a truthful answer, Nagato."
"Every word which my mouth utters is the word of truth," said Nagato."This woman is my son's wife, for they have pledged their troth;nothing but the war delayed the wedding."
"Very well; let Iwakura seek his bride in the castle of the Princes ofTosa; and the ransom which he must pay for her shall be proportioned tothe value of the treasure which I bear off."
"What have you done? what have you done?" sighed the old Prince. "Howshall I ever dare to tell my son that his wife is a prisoner?"
"You should be thankful," said the Prince of Tosa; "for see howgenerous I am. I give you your life,--your own life, that of yourson, and the lives of all your household; I permit you to rebuild theshattered walls of your castle, and am content with this one captive."
"I am ready to go," said Fatkoura, glad to be sacrificed for the safetyof the rest; "may I take a maid with me?"
"One or several, and as much baggage as you choose," said the Prince ofTosa. "You will be treated by me as a sovereign should be."
That very night Fatkoura left the castle of Nagato. She vainly stroveto restrain her tears as she passed over the threshold in her norimono,borne by the retainers of the victor.
"I shall never come back!" she cried.
Tika too wept. When they had gone a short distance, Fatkoura made thepalanquin-bearers halt; and leaning from the window, gazed for thelast time at the fortress of Hagui, on the brow of the hill, alreadyoutlined in black against the crimson sky.
"Farewell! farewell!" she cried, "last refuge of my undying hope.Behind your walls, home of my beloved, I still could dream of a remoteand lingering bliss. But it is ended; I am vowed to despair. The lastray which shone upon my path fades with the dying day."
The men resumed their journey, and the castle was lost to sight. ThePrince of Tosa left half his army in Nagato's domains. Messengersbrought him word that Figo had been unable to break through the enemy'slines, but that on hearing the news of the siege of Hagui, Iwakura hadsuddenly dep
arted, to march to the rescue of the fortress. He startedby night, and silently; in the morning the field was found deserted.Figo intended to follow him up; but victory would be assured if theycould bar the enemy's march and crush him between two armies.
Tosa gave his orders to the leaders of the troops whom he left behind;then hastened on to Chozan, where his ships awaited him. He wasreluctant to leave his dominion longer without protection, fearingthe vicinity of the Prince of Awa, whom he supposed to be loyal toFide-Yori.
When the junks had left the coast, and were sailing the inland sea,towards the Bungo Channel, the Prince visited his prisoner. He hadestablished her in a superb tent, in the stem of the finest ship, theone in which he himself embarked. Fatkoura sat upon a bench coveredwith rich rugs; her eyes were fixed upon the shores of Nagato, nowdisappearing in the distance, bathed in light.
"Have you any wish which I can gratify, fair Princess?" asked Tosa."Shall I order sweetmeats to be brought? would you like to hear thesound of the flute or biva?"[1]
"All my wishes rest behind in the land which I have left," she replied;"I have but one wish now,--to die."
"I respect your grief," said the Prince, and withdrew.
But he did not go far. He paced the deck, and, as if involuntarily, hefrequently approached the tent which sheltered Fatkoura. Tika watchedhim out of the corner of her eye. He had changed his military costume,and was dressed with much care. The Prince of Tosa was thirty yearsold. He was rather fat and short; his brown skin set off his whiteteeth to advantage; and his eyes, veiled by heavy lids, had a look ofamiability.
Tika thought the Prince quite charming; and she smiled faintly everytime that he heaved a sigh or cast a furtive glance at Fatkoura, whowatched the wake of the vessel.
"She is beautiful, is she not?" she said to herself. "You think thatthe Prince of Nagato is very lucky to have such a bride; you wouldlike to take her from him. I guessed your purpose instantly. From themoment that you saw her in the castle of Hagui, you had eyes for no oneelse, and you carried her off with all speed; you feared lest her lovershould come in time to wrest her from you. But you'll have your laborfor your pains; she will never love you.... Not that I would not prayfor your success," continued Tika, carrying on her monologue; "if shecould be cured and become Princess of Tosa, I should rejoice sincerely.The Prince of Nagato, too, would consent to the match with pleasure;but that, you cannot suspect."
The Prince of Tosa also scanned the young waiting-maid from time totime.
"Yes, yes! I understand," muttered Tika; "you examine thestepping-stone which may possibly help you to reach her."
Soon the girl got up; and, as if to breathe more freely, moved aboutthe deck. She leaned over the bulwarks, and looked across the sea; butall the time she slyly watched the Prince's movements.
"Oh! you will come to me," said she, "I am very sure of that. Let ussee how you will begin the conversation."
The Prince did indeed approach her, though slowly, and with somehesitation. Tika looked away.
"The air is fresher here, is it not, young woman?" said the Prince atlast, pausing in front of her.
"Well, that is commonplace enough," thought Tika, who replied by bowingher head.
"Why doesn't your mistress take a little walk? Why not let this lightbreeze cool her heated brow?"
"The wind which blows from the land of exile is more burning thanflames of fire," said Tika, in a solemn tone.
"Is it so dreadful, then, to dwell in one castle rather than inanother?" said the Prince. "Fatkoura shall be treated like a queen. Iswear that I desire her captivity to be more sweet than liberty is tomost people. Tell me what does she like?"
"Did she not tell you that she cared for nothing now? Once she was fondof dress, and music, and festivity; more than all else she loved tohear the footsteps of her lover on the outer gallery."
"She was very fond of this Nagato, then?"
"She loved him as he deserved to be loved; he is the most perfectknight imaginable."
"There are others as good," said Tosa.
"You think so!" cried Tika, with an incredulous air; "I never heard ofthem."
"He loves her madly, I suppose?"
"How could any one help loving her?"
"True, she is beautiful," said the Prince, casting a look at Fatkoura.
"You think her beautiful now, when her eyes are drowned in tears, andwhen she scorns the aid of paint and dress. If you had seen her whenshe was happy!"
"I will do my utmost to bring back a smile to her lips," said Tosa.
"There is but one way to do that."
"What is it? Tell me."
"To restore her to her husband."
"You mock me," cried the Prince, with a frown.
"I, sir!" said Tika, clasping her hands; "do you think I would deceiveyou, and that it would not be the best way to make my mistress happy? Iknow that you will not try it; so you will never see her smile."
"Very well! then she must be sad," said Tosa; "I shall not set herfree."
"Alas!" sighed Tika.
"Silence!" cried the Prince, stamping his foot. "Why do you say alas?what difference does it make to you whether you wait upon her hereor there. Don't you see that she has fascinated me, and that I ammiserable?"
The Prince moved away as he said these words, while Tika pretended tobe lost in profound surprise.
"I did not think that you would confide in me quite so soon," shemuttered when he was gone. "I divined your secret long ago; but youlittle guess how ready I am to favor your love."
Tika then went back to sit at the feet of her mistress.
"You desert me, to talk with our jailer," said Fatkoura.
"It was he who came to talk to me, mistress," said Tika; "and in thespace of a few moments he told me very strange things."
"What did he tell you?"
"Must I repeat his words? you will not be angry?"
"I don't know; but speak."
"Well, he said that you were the jailer, and he was your prisoner."
"What do you mean?"
"That the Prince of Tosa loves Fatkoura, and that if she is skilful,she can make him obey her every whim."
"I despise him too much to heed whether he loves or hates me?" saidFatkoura, turning away her head.
"He is not so contemptible," said Tika; "he is a very powerful and veryillustrious prince."
"Can you speak in such terms of our mortal enemy, Tika?" said Fatkoura,looking at her severely.
"Do not scold me," said Tika, with a caressing air. "I must hate himless, since I know that your grace has conquered him, and that in a fewhours you have subjugated his heart."
"Yes, you cannot forget that another turns his eyes from me, and youare grateful to this man for repairing the outrage inflicted upon me!"said Fatkoura, hiding her face in her hands.
As the sea was smooth and the voyage pleasant, instead of travelling byland, they skirted the coasts of the Island of Shikoku, weathered CapeTosa, and after sailing north-ward for some hours in the Pacific Ocean,the junks entered the harbor of Kotsi. The city was gay with flags,banners, and lanterns; the streets were strewn with blossoming boughs.The sovereign made a triumphal entry at the head of his victorioustroops.
When they had passed through the town and entered the precincts of thecastle, the Prince himself led Fatkoura to the pavilion chosen for her.It was the palace of the Queen of Tosa, who had been dead for severalyears.
"I am deeply pained that the joyous clamor which greeted me shouldgrate upon your ear," said the Prince to his prisoner; "I could notforbid my people to give way to their delight, but I suffered for yoursake."
"I heard nothing; my mind was elsewhere," replied Fatkoura.
Several days passed before the Prince visited the young woman. Hisbudding love made him timid, and he was amazed at this novel feeling.One morning he went for a solitary walk in that part of the parkinhabited by Fatkoura. Tika was lying in wait for him, and without aword to her mistress, appeared upon the balcony. The Princ
e beckoned toher, and she obeyed.
"Is she as sad as ever?" he asked,
"Yes."
"She hates me, I suppose?"
"I don't know," said Tika.
"I made you a confession the other day which I should have withheld,"said the Prince; "did you repeat it to your mistress?"
"I never hide anything from her, sir."
"Ah!" eagerly exclaimed the Prince, "what did she say when she learnedof my love for her?"
"She said nothing, but hid her face in her hands."
The Prince sighed.
"I must see her at any cost!" he cried. "For three days I have deprivedmyself of that pleasure, and I am worn out; I forget that I am hermaster."
"I will announce your visit to her," said Tika, going hastily back intothe house.
A moment later, Tosa stood before Fatkoura. He thought her even morelovely than the last time that he saw her. Sorrow had ennobled herbeauty; her complexion, free from cosmetics, revealed its feverishpallor, and her eyes wore an expression of proud resignation which wasmost touching.
The Prince was agitated, and could not utter a sound. She saluted himby raising her sleeve to her mouth. She was first to speak.
"If there be one spark of pity in your soul," she said, in a voicetrembling with tears, "do not leave me in this terrible state ofuncertainty; give me some tidings of my husband!"
"I am afraid to sadden you still more, by telling you tidingsdelightful to me, though wretched for you, since you are my enemy."
"Go on, I conjure you!" cried the terrified Fatkoura.
"Well, then, the Prince of Figo's army, ably seconded by my men,has triumphed over the Prince of Nagato, who fought bravely, I mustacknowledge. At this moment he is probably a prisoner. The latestbulletin informs me that, with barely a hundred men, Nagato intrenchedhimself in a small grove; my troops have surrounded him, and escape isimpossible."
Fatkoura bent her head in utter despair. He conquered! She could notbelieve it; she could not imagine him unhappy. In her eyes he wasalways triumphant, he was foremost,--the noblest, the handsomestof all; besides, how could he be a prisoner, when he might escapecaptivity by death? She raised her eyes to the lord of Tosa, doubtinghis words.
"You are hiding the truth from me," she said, with a look of painfulintensity; "you hope to prepare me for the fatal blow,--he is dead!"
"I have spoken frankly," said Tosa; "he will be taken alive. But Iwould give you one piece of advice,--forget that fellow," he added,irritated by Fatkoura's distress.
"Forget him! I!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands.
"You must; all is over for him. Do you think that I would let him gofree,--the man whom Hieyas detests so much that he will raise any onewho shall rid him of that foe, to the foremost rank in the empire; theman who humbled us all by his luxury, his wit, his beauty; the man whomyou love, and who is my rival?--for I love you."
"You love me!" cried Fatkoura, in horror.
"Yes," sighed the Prince; "and I came hither to tell my love; but youled me on to speak of things regarding which I would fain have beensilent. I am well aware that my love must be odious to you at first.But you must accustom yourself to it; there is nothing offensive toyou in it. I am free, and I offer to make you my wife. Think that thePrince of Nagato has ceased to exist."
Tosa then withdrew, that he might not hear Fatkoura's reply. He wasangry with her, and dissatisfied with himself.
"I was brutal," thought he, "I did not speak as I should have done; butjealousy suddenly devoured my soul. It is a fierce pain, which I neverknew before."
He wandered all the rest of the day in the gardens, treating harshlyall who approached him.
"She will never love me," he said to himself, "I have no means ofwinning her heart; but if the Prince of Nagato falls into my hands Iwill take vengeance on him."
Fatkoura was equally restless; she went from one room to another,wringing her hands and weeping silently. She dared not ask any furtherquestions; but each hour as it passed added to her anxiety.
One night she heard an unwonted noise in the castle; the drawbridgeswere lowered, the clash of arms rang out. She rose, and ran to thewindow; she saw lights shining through the trees.
"Get up, Tika!" she cried, rousing the young girl. "Try to slip inunseen and overhear what is said; try to find out what is going on inthe castle."
Tika dressed rapidly, and left the palace silently. Her mistressfollowed her with her eyes, but she was soon lost in the darkness.
When she returned she was ashy pale, and pressed her hand to her heart.
"The Prince of Nagato has just entered the palace," she gasped; "I sawhim pass by with a guard of soldiers. He was loaded with chains; hisweapons had been taken from him."
At these words Fatkoura uttered a loud shriek, and fell to the floor.
"Can she be dead?" exclaimed Tika, in alarm, kneeling beside hermistress.
She put her ear to Fatkoura's breast. Her heart beat rapidly, but hereyes were shut; she was cold and motionless.
"What shall I do? what shall I do?" said Tika, not daring to call, hermistress having forbidden her to admit any of the servants apportionedto her by the Prince of Tosa.
The fainting-fit lasted a long time. When Fatkoura re-opened her eyes,it was day. She looked at Tika for a moment in surprise; but her memorysoon returned. She rose abruptly.
"We must save him, Tika," she exclaimed, with feverish excitement; "wemust get him out of this castle."
"Has she lost her mind?" thought Tika.
"Come," continued Fatkoura; "let us see if we can find out in what partof the palace he is confined."
"Are you in earnest, mistress? At this time of day? The sun has notyet drunk up the morning dews. We should be suspected if we were seenwalking so early, especially as you have never once left your roomsince you came here."
"No matter; you can say that fever drove me from my bed. Come!"
Fatkoura stepped down into the garden, and walked straight forward.The grass was still dripping wet; the trees and bushes were bathed inrosy light; the topmost peaks of the great castle-tower, touched by thefirst rays of the sun, glittered, moist with dew. Tika followed hermistress. They came to the palisade enclosing their particular domain.The door was only on the latch; the prisoners were free to roam atwill within the well-guarded fortress. The soldiers who brought PrinceNagato were encamped in the avenues of the park. The greater numberslept, lying flat on their stomachs, with their heads on their arms;others, crouching round a dying fire, ate rice from large straw-coveredbowls.
"Tika," said Fatkoura, looking at these men and the weapons whichgleamed beside them, "a sword is a faithful comrade, that opensthe door to the other life, and allows one to escape dishonor. Theconqueror robbed me of my dagger. Try to steal the sword of one ofthose soldiers."
"Mistress!" said Tika, casting a frightened glance at the young woman.
"Obey me!" said Fatkoura.
"Then we must move away from those who are awake, and keep in thebackground; the rustle of our robes might betray us."
Tika glided between the beds of flowers; then stretched herself on thegrass, and reached out as far as she could towards a soldier lying onthe edge of the path. He slept upon his back, his nose in the air. Hissword lay by his side. The girl touched the weapon with the tips of herfingers. Her nails made a slight sound against the scabbard. Her heartbeat violently. The soldier did not stir. She advanced yet a little,and seized the sword by the middle; then she slid slowly back acrossthe grass.
"I have it, mistress!" she whispered, returning to Fatkoura.
"Give it to me! Give it to me! I shall feel easier with that defendernear me."
Fatkoura hid the sword in her bosom; then walked quickly away, heedlesswhere she went. Suddenly she found herself within a few paces of thepalace inhabited by the Prince of Tosa. People were coming and going.She heard the sound of voices; she drew still nearer, and knelt behinda bush to listen. She overheard a few words, and found that some onewas congr
atulating the Prince upon his recent capture.
"I thank you," said Tosa, "for sharing the joy I feel at thisoccurrence. Nagato is the most bitter enemy of our great Hieyas;so that it is a great glory for me to have delivered him from thisdetested foe. Nagato will be executed to-morrow, at noon, in theprecincts of the fortress; and I shall send his head to Hieyas."
Fatkoura had strength not to cry out. She went back to Tika. She hadlearned enough. Her pallor was alarming, but she was calm. She pressedthe sword against her flesh. It hurt her, but it calmed her.
"Return, I entreat you, mistress," said Tika. "If we should bediscovered, our purpose would be suspected, and we should be throwninto prison."
"You are right," said Fatkoura; "but it is absolutely necessary for meto know in what part of the palace Nagato lies. His captor means tokill him; he is condemned to a disgraceful death. If I cannot save him,I can at least give him the means to die nobly."
"I can pass unobserved," said Tika; "I can talk with the servantswithout arousing suspicion. I will contrive to find out what you wantto know."
Fatkoura returned to the palace, and fell upon her cushions, depressedand almost unconscious. Tika was absent a long time. When she cameback, her mistress was still in the same place, motionless.
"Well, Tika?" she cried, as soon as she saw the girl.
"I know where he is, mistress; I have seen the pavilion where he lies.I can guide you thither."
"Come!" said Fatkoura, rising to her feet.
"Are you mad?" cried Tika. "It is broad daylight still. We must waitfor night."
"True," said Fatkoura; "let us wait."
She sank back. Until evening she remained without moving or speaking,her eyes fixed upon the same spot on the floor. When it was quitedark, she rose and said, "Come!" Tika made no objection, and they setoff. They traversed the gardens once more, skirted other houses andcourtyards. The girl found her way by looking from time to time at thegreat tower, upon which a lantern burned.
"You see that small house with two roofs, outlined clear against thesky? It is there."
"The window is lighted," said Fatkoura. "Is he there? Is it indeedpossible? Conquered, captive, about to die!"
They went on.
"Are there soldiers there?" asked Fatkoura, in a low voice.
"I do not know," said Tika; "I see no one."
"If I cannot speak to him, I will throw the sword through that openwindow."
They walked on, and down a slight slope. All at once Fatkoura feltherself clasped by a strong arm, which held her back.
"Another step, and you would have fallen into a deep ditch, which liesjust beneath your feet," said a voice. Fatkoura recognized the Princeof Tosa.
"All is over," she muttered.
He still held her; she made desperate efforts to release herself fromhis grasp, but could not succeed.
"Is it thus you thank me for saving your life?" said he. "Luckily, Iwas forewarned of the walk you meant to take to-night, and I followedyou, to preserve you from danger. Do you suppose that your every wordand movement are not faithfully reported to me? Do you suppose that Idid not know your mad plan to deliver your lover, or provide him withthe means to escape my vengeance?"
"Release me, wretch!" groaned Fatkoura, struggling.
"No," said the Prince; "you shall remain in my embrace. Your touchenchants me. I am determined to love you, whether you will or no.Still, I will make one last attempt to win your affection. Give me yourlove, and I will let you carry Nagato the sword which you stole fromone of my soldiers."
"That offer is quite worthy of you!" said Fatkoura, with disdain.
"You refuse?"
"The Princess of Nagato will never dishonor her name."
"Then you must give up that weapon," said the Prince, himself drawingit from Fatkoura's bosom. "You might escape me by death, which woulddistress me sorely. Consider my offer; you have until to-morrow todecide. Up to the hour of the execution, at which you will be present,it will be in your power to procure your husband a more easy death."
The Prince then led her back to the palace, where he left her. Shewas so overwhelmed by terror and despair that it seemed to her she nolonger existed. She fell into a troubled sleep; but all the hideouscreations of her feverish dreams were less horrible than the reality.When she waked, her first thought stopped the beating of her heart, andbathed her brow in cold perspiration.
The Prince of Tosa sent to know her decision, and for what form ofdeath the Prince of Nagato was to prepare.
"Say to Tosa," haughtily replied the Princess, "that he may cease toinsult me by feigning to believe that I could tarnish Nagato's name bycommitting an act of infamy."
She was then informed that the execution would take place before herwindows, just as the sun began to sink towards the west.
"That odious lord thinks, perhaps," said Fatkoura, when she was oncemore alone with Tika, "that I shall survive the death of him who isdearer to me than my own life. He thinks that the blow which strikeshim before my very eyes will not kill me too. He little knows a woman'sheart."
Tika, confounded, said nothing. Sitting at the feet of her mistress,her tears flowed silently. People came and went outside the house, thegravel crackling under the many feet. Fatkoura approached the window,and peered through the blind.
Upright posts had been planted around the bare space extending beforethe palace front. Men, mounted on ladders, beat the ends of these postswith hammers, to drive them into the ground. Then they brought chestsof black lacquer with silver corners, and took from them white silkhangings, which were fastened to the posts in such a way as to enclosethe square in a wall of silk. Mats were spread on the ground; a purewhite one with a red fringe in the centre; upon this mat the condemnedman was to sit. A folding-chair was placed beneath Fatkoura's windowfor the Prince of Tosa, who desired to witness the execution.
The miserable young woman paced her chamber in a fever; she movedaway from the window, then returned to it against her will. Her teethchattered; a sort of terrible impatience took possession of her; shewas afraid to wait.
Soldiers entered the square; then came Samurais, the vassals of thePrince of Tosa. The latter gathered in groups, and with one hand ontheir swords, talked in under-tones, blaming the conduct of their lord.
"To refuse the hara-kiri to one of the noblest among the sovereignprinces of Japan! I cannot understand the sentence," said one.
"It is unheard of," said another, "even when it is a question of simpleSamurais like us."
"He wants to send the Prince of Nagato's head to Hieyas."
"If the Prince had administered justice to himself, the corpse's headmight have been cut off secretly, without dishonor to the memory of thenoble victim."
"The lord of Tosa undoubtedly has some reason to hate Nagato."
"Never mind! Hatred does not excuse injustice."
When the hour for the execution arrived, the blinds were rolled up inFatkoura's apartment.
The distracted young woman fled to the farthest corner of the palace;she hid her head in the folds of a satin curtain, that she might beblind and deaf, and might stifle the sound of her sobs. But all at onceshe rose, and wiped her eyes.
"Come, Tika!" she exclaimed, "it is not thus that Iwakura's wife shouldact; I must restrain my grief. Help me to that window!"
When she appeared, leaning upon Tika, deep silence reigned among thespectators,--a silence full of respect and compassion. The Prince ofTosa arrived at the same moment. He raised his eyes to her; but shelet fall upon him a look so charged with hate and scorn that his headsank; and seating himself upon the folding-chair, he gave a sign forthe prisoner to be brought in. The latter came forward nonchalantly,with a disdainful smile upon his lips. His chains had been removed, andhe toyed with his fan. Two executioners walked behind him, bare-legged,dressed in black tunics confined at the waist by a belt, in which was along sword. He stepped upon the white mat which was to be reddened withhis blood a few moments later; then he raised his head. Fatkoura f
elta strange thrill. The man who stood before her was not the Prince ofNagato. The gaze of the enamoured girl, which had lingered so often andso long upon the features of the beloved, could not be deceived even bya resemblance which cheated the whole world. She did not hesitate aninstant. She did not see the brilliant eye, or the melancholy smile, orthe haughty brow of him who filled her heart.
"I knew that he could not be conquered and humiliated," she said toherself, seized by a wild joy, which she with difficulty disguised.
The prisoner's doom was read aloud. He was condemned to have his hands,and then his head, hewn off.
"The infamy with which you would brand me does but dishonor you,"exclaimed the prisoner. "My hands have never committed any but nobledeeds, and do not deserve to be severed from the arms which guidedthem. But invent whatever torments you please, torture me as you will,I shall remain a prince, and you sink to the rank of on executioner. Ifought with all my strength against the enemies of our legitimate lord;you betrayed him for another, who betrayed him too, and you craftilyattacked my kingdom when there was no ground for war between us. Youwanted my head to sell it to Hieyas for a good price; the dishonor isyours. What do I care for your ridiculous sentence!"
"Who is this man who speaks so boldly?" thought Fatkoura.
The Samurais approved the prisoner's words; they declared theirdissatisfaction to the Prince of Tosa.
"Do not refuse him the death of a noble," they said; "he has donenothing to merit such severity."
Tosa's soul was filled with rage.
"My vengeance is not sufficient," said he, gnashing his teeth; "I wishI could think of something still more dreadful."
"But you can think of nothing," said the prisoner, laughing; "youalways lacked imagination. Do you recollect, when you followed me inthe merry pranks which I invented? You never could originate anything;but your brain next day would rehearse our inventions of the daybefore."
"Enough!" shouted Tosa; "I will tear off your flesh with pincers, andpour boiling pitch into your wounds."
"That is only an improvement on the moxas invented by physicians. Tryagain; that's a trifle."
"I cannot explain that man's heroic conduct," thought Fatkoura; "heknows that he is taken for another, and he carries on an imposturewhich leads him to a sure and frightful death."
She longed to proclaim the truth,--to say that this man was not thePrince of Nagato; but she thought that no one would believe her.Besides, as he was silent himself, he must have grave reasons foracting as he did.
"I swear to avenge you in the most startling fashion," she cried aloud."It is the Prince of Nagato's bride who takes the oath; and she willkeep it."
"Thanks, divine Princess!" said the prisoner; "you are the only causeI have to regret my life. Tell my master that I died cheerfully forhim, seeing a proof of our superiority and our future glory in thescarce-glutted wrath of my jailer."
"You shall speak no more," exclaimed the Prince of Tosa, with a sign tothe executioner.
Sado's head was severed at a single blow. A torrent of blood delugedthe white mat, and the body fell. Fatkoura could not repress a shriekof horror.
The Samurais turned away their heads with a frown, and silentlyretired, bowing to the Prince of Tosa. The latter, filled with shameand anger, shut himself up in his palace.
That very night a messenger, bearing a bloody head, wrapped in red silkand contained in a straw sack, left the castle of Tosa.
[1] A sort of guitar.