Untitled

AT A FAN-MAKER'S. 123
respectful attitude, and waving his fan admiringly: "Yah!
you speak right, my master."
" Behold," said the juggler, pointing his fan at his servant,
"a miserable wretch who thinks of nothing but drinking sake.
Rather than be any longer burdened with the support of such
a creature, I will swallow my sword."
The assistant, who listened attentively, uttered a series of
barbaric cries, which Oto said were intended as applause.
The Kari-ivasa drew his sword from its sheath, raised
it aloft, and taking it in a cloth, in his right hand, proceeded to
thrust the naked weapon down his throat.
"Oh! poor fellow, it will hurt him," murmured Sallie.
" Do not worry, sissy," said Fitz.
" He does not really
swallow the sword. I can do that trick."
The servant gave a shriek, and, advancing to his master,
loosened the latter's girdle, and, applying his hand beneath the
sword-swallo\ver's ribs, shouted,
'
:
Wonderful ! Here is the point of the weapon. Will not
you, honorable foreign gentlemen, come and satisfy yourselves
that there is no deception."
When the juggler began to draw the blade from his throat,
Sallie closed her eyes and whispered,
" Do come away, boys, I cannot witness any more of this
performance. Come away."
" All right," said Johnnie.
r? We
do not wish to annoy you,
sister."
"Oh! do stay, Sallie," said Fitz, in a jocular tone. ''You
have not seen half the fun yet. He will commit hara-kiri
presently."
The young lady walked on with Johnnie and Oto, leaving
Fitz to follow at his leisure. After going a few yards they saw
a kin-gi-yo-ya (gold-fish dealer) peddling his beautiful speci-
mens near the gateway of a temple.