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TWO BABY BOYS. 63
brought by the maids, the travelers' feet washed and
dried, fresh sandals furnished, and beside a fire of
glowing charcoal the master sat looking out on
Mount Soma until a lunch of rice, beans, boiled fish,
and candied orange-slice was served.
Two hours were spent in
eating, rest, and enjoyment
of the scenery. Before they left their bill of
items was presented on a tray by a young girl on
hands and knees, who bowed and left the room.
The gentleman, taking some slips of cardboard
money from his wallet, wrapped the currency in a
piece of white mulberry paper, and, tying
it with
a red and white cord of the same material, placed
it on the tray with a small coin or two for the maid.
Then, after numerous bows and good wishes, and
exhortations from the host and hostess and maids to
"Go slowly," "Do not tire yourself," etc., the master
and servant set their faces towards Fukui.
The path down the steep slope was narrow and
rocky. They had gone some miles when suddenly a
rushing sound was heard from behind them, and
there shot by them a foot-runner. He was naked,
except that his loins were covered by a flat wide belt
of muslin. A gay blue head-kerchief was knotted
round his smoothly dressed hair, so that even his
top-knot, pomatumed to the stiffness of a ramrod,
lay flat on his scalp. His feet were shod with tough
rice-straw sandals, and over his shoulders and held
in his right hand was a cleft bamboo holding a
government-dispatch. The man fairly whizzed past
them, and in admiration of his clean build, supple