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126 HONDA THE SAMUKAL
a silk ribbon) and waving it defiantly to the Genji,
mockingly dared them to shoot.
" '
It 's a challenge to us to show that the men of
the red banner mean to fight. They mock us with a
woman, and dare us to try our skill at a fan target,'
said the Genji soldiers.
" '
Ho, archers, take your long bows and shoot ! '
cried Yoshitsune". But not a man moved. All
feared the disgrace of failure.
"Then the commander spoke to Mune'taki, the
most famous archer of the eight provinces of the
east.
" * I charge you to maintain the fame of the white
banner before the He'ike',' added the commander.
" ' Your servant will make the attempt, and if he
fail, will commit hara-kiri,' calmly replied Mune'taki.
"Then the archer, mounting his war-horse, with
but a single shaft, and his long bow in hand, rode
out over the shallows into the water as far as he
dared go. The boat rocked on the waters so unsteadily
that failure seemed certain, but, praying to
Hachiman for help, and fitting the shaft to his bow,
he waited a few seconds until the fan-target seemed
for a moment steady in the air. Then, aiming at
the brass rivet in the end of the fan, he released the
string.
" From the spectators on the bows of the He'ike'
boat and from the Genji watchers on the shore alike
rose a mighty shout of astonishment, for the fan
was first knocked skyward and then fell into the
sea. All praised the skill of the eastern archer, but