A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

Kogi the Priest 73
to be fishing ; and I approached the hook which
he had let down into the water. There was some
fish-food upon it that was good to smell. I
remembered in the same moment the warning of
the Dragon-King, and swam away, saying to my-
self — : 'In any event 1 must not eat food containing
fish — ; 1 am a disciple of the Buddha.'
Yet after a little while my hunger became so in-
tense that 1 could not resist the temptation ; and 1
swam back again to the hook, thinking, — ' Even
if Bunshi should catch me, he would not hurt
me; — he is my old friend.' 1 was not able to
loosen the bait from the hook; and the pleasant
smell of the food was too much for my
patience ; and 1 swallowed the whole thing at a
gulp. Immediately after I did so, Bunshi pulled
in his line, and caught me. I cried out to him,
' What are you doing ? — you hurt me !
' —
but
he did not seem to hear me, and he quickly put
a string through my jaws. Then he threw me
into his basket, and took me to your house.
When the basket was opened there, I saw you
and Juro playing go in the south room, and
Kamori watching you — eating a peach the while.
All of you presently came out upon the veranda
to look at me; and you were delighted to see