The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-08-30

,alled out one, looking about him with
IN aspect of such fierceness that Yomei
well nigh fell to the earth.
"The horse is miner cried another.
"This is my saddle" exclaimed a third.
"See 1t is heavy with silver"
"Ah!" from fourth as he tore open
the hamper. II have found the dainty
fellows lunch. Let us feast upon it be-
fore we find and kill the owner"
Yomei, knowing nothing of the hidden
poison, thought these moments his last.
With the apathy of despair he gazed up
on them as they portioned out, with
many a rude jest and remark, the food
which had been destined for him.
what carrion the aristocrats do eatV
cried the captain, throwing from him the
remains of small devil fish stuffed with
rice, sugar and vinegar. "The thing is
filled with medicine! 1t is bitter! By
/ all the devils of earth and seal 1t is poi.
son! We are tricl1edr'
at is poisonl 1t is poison!" they all
shrieked, running frantically past one
another with horrible EXPLANATIONS and
contortions of physical agony. "Where
is the mani" they cried. I'VE are poi
soned like frogs in we'll! Where is he
who has tricked us?"
There he isr' called the dying chief,
who had just caught sight of the COVER
ing Yomei. "Shoot him! Up after him!
Burn the tree! Ah-h-hr' But it was too
late They lay about on the lush noun
tain grass in various attitudes of violent
death, and their CLASSY eyes were all
turned upward toward Yomei The fears
of that valiant youth, however, were at
an end. He descended with bold and
careless air, and walking from one to an
other stuck an arrow deep into the left
eye of each. Then mounting his horse
he rode home.
The first person to meet him was his
stepmother. AT the sight of him she
fell to the ground, faint and stricken
with fear
"Are you not pleased to see me, moth
err" he asked brightly. Il must thank
you for the delightful lunch you pre-
pared for me. See?" opening the hamper,
"every morsel has been eaten"
His fathers joy at seeing him alive
was deep and sincere. "Why, my son,
he said after the ceremonials of welcome
were through, "your armor is untouched,
your hair is as smooth as when you let
the house. How did you slay such a
fierce body of men with so little exer-
tion?"
ooh! 1t was a simple matter" said
Yomei proudly. when they caught
sight of me, they came toward me, run
ming side by side. l took the II arrows
fitting them all to my bow, which l held
horizontally, instead of in the usual man
ner, and the arrows were placed so ex
actly that, as they flew, each was point
} ed toward a robber and struck him di
, rectly in the left eye. You will fine
them all there now, each with the arrow
sticking upright"
your skill is more than mortalr' criet
the happy father. "Now you are a noble
man in your own right and will be give1
a daughter of the mikado in marriage
foresee that you will add luster to tn
: ancient name which you bear" And h
fell upon his sons neck and wept will
pure joy.
After this the stepmother ceased in he
evil designs, fully convinced of Yomei'
, supernatural powers.
He married a princess, built grea
l castle for himself, and to this day hi
name is synonym in Japan for shrewd
S ness and lu .-TronSlated from Il
japanese for Romance