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142 HONDA THE SAMURAI.
had blocked the way with spears resting
on their
butts, arrows in the string, or with hands clapped
to their swords, one after another kneeling down on
the ground, bowed their heads with sighs of admiration
for his reverence, the eloquent priest. Even
the captain, Hogashi, lowered his head to the floor.
" The result was that Benke'i took up a collection
on the spot, into which even the captain dropped a
silver coin, and then, with his fan, he waved the
order to let the company pass. But once free from
the spell of Benkid's tongue, one of the soldiers who
knew Yoshitsune* by sight, as the band filed by,
recognized his former master in the garb of a priest's
servant, and cried out :
" '
There he is ! Yoshitsun I know him !
" This Yoshitsun^ denied in rude country speech,
and Benke'i, always ready, laughed at the idea of
his servant being the great commander. Then giving
Yoshitsune' a kick, he knocked him down and
thrashed him soundly with his cane for answering
the guard rudely with clownish talk.
" ' Excuse my servant, your honor, he is but a
clodhopper from the country,' said Benke'i, bowing
and passing on.
" The officer enjoyed the fun, and his suspicions
were allayed, and they were soon far beyond the
barrier, on their way
to the north.
"
How Benke'i died is not certain, but it is sure
that his last breath was loyal to his master,
YoshitsuneV'
" What became of Yoshitsun^ ? " asked Taro.
'