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A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

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The Story <strong>of</strong> Umetsu Chubei'<br />

UMETSU<br />

CHUBEI was a young samurai<br />

<strong>of</strong> great strength and courage. He<br />

was in the service <strong>of</strong> the Lord Tomura<br />

Judayu, whose castle stood upon a l<strong>of</strong>ty hill in<br />

the neighborhood <strong>of</strong> Yokote, in the province <strong>of</strong><br />

Dewa. The houses <strong>of</strong> the lord's retainers formed<br />

a small town at the base <strong>of</strong> the hill.<br />

Umetsu was one <strong>of</strong> those selected for night-<br />

duty at the castle-gates. There were two nightwatches<br />

— ; the first beginning at sunset and<br />

ending at midnight ; the second beginning at<br />

midnight and ending at sunrise.<br />

Once, when Umetsu happened to be on the<br />

second watch, he met with a strange adventure.<br />

While ascending the hill at midnight, to take his<br />

place on guard, he perceived a woman standing<br />

at the last upper turn <strong>of</strong> the winding road lead-<br />

1 Related in the Buhkyo-Hjiakkwa-Zensho.<br />

55

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