Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-14

ONlueubly merely SnOgun spies
soidlery. Their clumsy handling of their sw ords
hIled his soul with n wild elation lie would
have some play with these vassals--he keild
the most exquisite swordsman in Japan and the
most finished Jujutsu student.
Come hither-hither!" he tainted with
out dishonor ye may yield yourselves to mt,
keti, the invincble!"
A savage yell replied. Tn imagination, per
haps, the Shotgun spies saw the glittering price
OF the Princes head within their hands They
closed with him.
The hand of Kciki instantly snatchcd the sec
ond sword from his belt With sword in each
hand he met the advance The sword in his
right hand met and parred the initial blows and
thrusts OF his two adversaries the sword in his
iett met the blade of the third and though it
could not attack, maintained an effective defense.
Inc attacking swordsmen were startled. Such
thing was beyond the traditions of the samu
raj, and feat well nigh impossible.
vi sudden the blade of the first of Keikis
adversares dealt vicious blow. Keiki met it
with his left-hand sword, and before the blade
could be recovered by his enemy the sword in
MS right hand had turned to the second adver
sary' Ihs one, unprepared for Keiks sudden
onslaught, fell back, with his syvord-arm severed
at at the wrist. Again the first antagonist thrust;
helki met him. He now had an antagonist on
elther side OF him, at points nearly opposite. He
answered the blow Of the one with the first of
! his two swords, while the other recovered his
blade. There could be only one issue to such
unequal combat. The position of his adversaries
would not permit keiki to fight them with one
sword alone Alive to the necessities of his po
siton, Keiki kept slowly turning as his oppo.
nents tried to take him from behind. Suddenly
keiki fell upon his left knee, as though over
come, while with his right-hand sword he kept
| up vigorous attack. The sword in his left
hand became feeblor weaker in its movements
Thinking kciki affected by some of the numer-
GUS small wounds with which he was covered
despite his defense, the soldier on Keiki's left
rushed in to dispatch him. leaving himself but
poorly guarded. The sword opposed to him be-
came swiftly active. 1t passed into the breast
of the samurai, where Keiki, glad that its ne
cessity was over allowed it to remain.
| Quickly regaining his feet, the Prince devoted
himself to his remaining enemy, who was bet
ter swordsman than the others.
"Yield!'' threatened Keiki, as he dealt furi
Gus blow at the others head
| His antagonist laughed Immediately Keik
thrust in quick succession at the others breast,
head and throat. His first blow was parried
The second at the head was feint. As the sol
dier raised his sword to meet it, Keki. unop-
posed, thrust through his throat. He fell.
Breathing heavily from his exertion, Keiki
looked about him for the maid, and the spy
whose hand he had severed. He found the maid
en- bending the lifeless body of his antago.
mist. From her hand small dagger slipped TO
the ground. Satisfied as to her safety keiii
quickly drew out his left sword from the breast
of his opponent. Then without a word he climb.
ed the wall and took the southern route again
disdaining to follow the directions of his late
hostess.
In rice field farther down the road he bound
up his wounds with the torn lining Of his haon
Through the larger part of the following day he
slept
Alarmed by the recent occurrences at the little
house by the highway, Keki, who believed that
the Shotgun had put price upon his head, now
Travelled only at night. The days he spent in
lsleep and in locating, without exposing himself
too much, the scenes of foraging expeditions
made at night through which he managed to Sc
cure the means of sustenance.
The vigorous and unnatural fight through
which he had Just passed had a further invigor
ating effect upon him. Before that he had been
near to death in his thoughts-death for the
cause. Now he resolved in fresh and vigorous
determination to live-and to live gloriousy for
the greatest cause that had ever made pulse
to leap in Japan.
At dusk on the fifth day after the fight, Keik
set forth upon the last stage of his journey. He
was now near to the borders of the Choshui prov
nce. A few hours later he reckoned that he
had crossed the boundary and was well within
the limits of his fathers country, when there
came to him the sound of swords clashing be-
yond a turn in the road. Keiki, now grown
cautious skirted the spot through field, and
then crept within sight of the place
Five men were pitted against three while on
the road Law the bodies of two more. Kelk had
made up his mind to aid the lesser party, when
an exclamation in well-remembered tones came
to him. It was from one of the lesser party old
Hashimoto, trusted follower of his father.
In moment Keki was in the road Before
either party were aware of his presence he had
killed two of the larger number.
81 aid thee" he shouted, with his fathers
men he engaged the despised Shotgun followers
Speedily another of their number fell The four
obtained the easy surrender of the others.
Hashimoto approached the Prince.
"We thank thee for thy aid" he began
Then, recognizing Keki, he started back pace
and fell upon his knees.
'My noble prince! My master!" he cried, as
he caught his robe and reverently pressed it to
his lips.
"Thy mastcr?" repeated Keili MY father.
what of him?"
"Taken. your hghness."
"Taken?"
"After the rumors OF your capture, your high
ness. we at once determined to raise the Imperial
standard against the Shotgun, and your father"
"But we were not ready. None of our plans
had been carried out!" cried the Prince
! Hashimoto answered:
"True, your highness, but your father was
promised the assistance of most of the southern
clans. Consequently he seized number of
Buddhist monasteres and cast their huge bronze
bells into cannon, His undertaking was re-
vealed to the Shotgun before our allies could Join
us, and he was surprised and taken captive
"He serves sentence?
ale was sentenced, your highness But the
Gods have anticipated-he is dead.
Keih threw off his cape, which Hashimoto re.
snectfuIv lifted.