A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

44 Japanese Miscellany
At these words Arakawa became so angry that
he rushed towards the prisoner, and would have
struck him but for the interference of the guards.
And this sudden outburst of anger caused the
Chief Officer to suspect that Arakawa was not
altogether innocent. He ordered Kwashin Koji to
be taken to prison for the time being ; and he
then proceeded to question Arakawa closely.
Now Arakawa was naturally slow of speech ; and
on this occasion, being greatly excited, he could
scarcely speak at all ; and he stammered, and
contradicted himself, and betrayed every sign of
guilt. Then the Chief Officer ordered that Ara-
kawa should be beaten with a stick until he told
the truth. But it was not possible for him even
to seem to tell the truth. So he was beaten with
a bamboo until his senses departed from him,
and he lay as if dead.
Kwashin Kofi was told in the prison about
what had happened to Arakawa ; and he laughed.
But after a little while he said to the jailer:—
" Listen ! That fellow Arakawa really behaved
like a rascal ; and 1 purposely brought this pun-
ishment upon him, in order to correct his evil
inclinations. But now please say to the Chief