Warriors of Old Japan, and Other Stories — The Goblin of Oyeyama, Part 2

As they sped on their way they came to a mountain stream, and here they found a damsel washing a blood-stained garment, and as she washed and beat the garment against the current, they saw that she often had to stop and wipe the tears away with her sleeve, for she was weeping bitterly.

Raiko's heart was stirred with pity at her distress, and he went up to her and said: "This is a goblin-haunted mountain; how is it that I find a damsel such as you here?"

The Princess (for such she was) looked up in his face wonderingly and said: "It is indeed true that this is a goblin-haunted mountain, and hitherto inaccessible to mortals.

How is it that you have managed to get here?"

and she looked from Raiko to his men.

Then Raiko said: "I will tell you the truth quite frankly.

The Emperor has commanded us to slay the demon; that is why we are here!"

Without waiting to hear any more, the Princess ran up to Raiko in her joy and clung to him, crying out in broken sentences: "Are you indeed the great Raiko of whom I have so often heard?

How thankful I am that you have come.

I will be your guide to the goblin's den.

Hasten, Knight Raiko, and kill the demons!

I already feel that I am saved!"

When they heard these words the warriors knew that she was one of the goblin's victims.

The Princess turned and led the way up the hill.

Presently they saw a large iron gate guarded by two demons.

The demon on the right was red and the demon on the left was black, and each was armed with a great iron stick or club.

The Princess whispered to Raiko: "Behold the home of the demon.

Enter the gates, and you will find a beautiful palace, built of black iron from the foundations to the roof.

It is therefore called the Palace of Black Iron or Kurogane.

It is large, and the inside is as beautiful as a great Daimio's palace.

Within the walls of the Palace of Black Iron, Shutendoji holds a feast night and day.

He is waited upon by maidens such as I, whom he has carried off from the capital and from the provinces to be his slaves.

The wine he drinks, poured out in crimson lacquer cups, is the blood of human beings, and the food of those feasts is the flesh of his victims who are slain in turn.

What numbers have I seen disappear, alas!

all murdered to supply the awful food and wine of those cannibal feasts.

How I have prayed to Heaven to punish this monster!

But when I saw the fate of my friends, how could I hope to live?

I knew not when my turn would come.

But since I have met you I feel that we shall all be saved and great is my joy and gratitude!"

By this time they had reached the gate, and the Princess went forward and said to the red and black demon sentinels: "These poor travellers have lost their way on this mountain.

I took compassion on them and brought them here, so that they may rest for a while before going on their journey.

I hope you will be kind to them."

When the Princess first began to speak the demons looked and saw Raiko and his fellow priests.

Little dreaming who these men were, and that in admitting them they were letting in the bravest knights in the whole of Japan, and still less suspecting their purpose, the demons laughed in their hearts.

Good prey had indeed fallen into their hands; they would surely be allowed a share in the feast that these fresh victims would furnish.

They grinned from ear to ear at the Princess and told her that she had done well, and bade her take the six travellers into the Palace and inform Shutendoji of their arrival.

Thus the six warriors entered into the very stronghold of the demons as if they were invited guests.

Triumphant glee at the success of their plan made them exchange lightning glances with each other.

They passed through the great iron gate, up to the porch, and then the Princess led them through large spacious rooms and along great corridors till at last they reached the inner part of the Palace.

Here they were shown into a large hall.

At the upper end in the seat of honour sat the demon king Shutendoji.

Never had the knights in their wildest dreams dreamt of such a hideous monster.

He was ten feet in height, his skin was bright red and his wild shock of hair was like a broom.

He wore a crimson _hakama_,[2] and he rested his huge arms on a stand.

As the knights entered, he glared at them fiercely with eyes as big as a dish.

The sight of this dread monster was enough to make any one tremble with fear, and had Raiko and his knights been weak they must have fainted away with horror.

Raiko could hardly restrain himself from flying at the monster then and there, but he controlled himself and bowed humbly so as not to awaken the enemy's suspicion in any way.

Shutendoji, glaring at him, said haughtily: "I do not know who you are in the least, or how you have found your way into this mountain, but make yourself at home!"

Then Raiko answered meekly: "We are only humble mountain priests from Mount Haguro of Dewa.

We were on our way to the capital, having been on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Omine.

In travelling across these mountains we have lost our way.

While wandering about and wondering which was the right path to take, we were met by one of the inmates of your palace and kindly brought here.

Please pardon us for trespassing on your domains and for all the trouble we are giving you!"

"Don't mention it," said Shutendoji; "I am sorry to hear of your plight.

Do not stand on ceremony while you are here, and let us feast together."

Then turning to the attendant demons he shouted orders for the dinner to be served, and clapped his red hands together.

At this the partitions between the rooms slid apart and beautiful damsels magnificently robed came gliding in, bearing aloft in their hands large wine-cups, jars of _saké_ and dishes of fish of all kinds, which they placed before the ugly goblin and the guests.

Raiko knew that all these lovely princesses had been snatched from the Flower Capital by Shutendoji, who, heedless of their tears and misery, kept them here to be his handmaidens.

He said to himself fiercely that they should soon be free.

Now that the wine-cups were brought in, the warrior seized his opportunity.

From his satchel he took out the jar containing the enchanted wine, Shimben-Kidoku-Shu, which he had received from the gods of the three shrines, and said to Shutendoji: "Here is some wine which we have brought from Mount Haguro.

It is a poor wine and unworthy of your acceptance, but we have always found it of great benefit in refreshing us when we were weary from fatigue and in cheering our drooping spirits.

It will give us much pleasure if you will try a little of our humble wine, though it may not please your taste!"

Shutendoji seemed pleased at this courtesy.

He handed out a huge cup to be filled, saying: "Give me some of your wine.

I should like to try it."

The goblin drained it at one swallow and smacked his lips over it.

"I have never tasted such excellent wine," he said and held out his cup to be filled again.

You can imagine how delighted Raiko was, for he knew full well that the demon was given into his hand.

But he dissembled cleverly and said as he filled the goblin's wine-cup: "I am delighted that the Honourable Host should deign to like our poor country wine.

While you drink, I and my companions will venture to amuse you by our dancing."

Then Raiko made a sign to his men and they began to chant an accompaniment, while he himself danced.

Shutendoji was highly amused as well as his attendants.

They had never seen men dance before, and they thought that the strangers were very entertaining.

The goblins now began to pass the magic wine round and to grow merry.

Others meanwhile whispered among themselves, pitying the six travellers who, all unconscious of the horrible fate which was about to overtake them, were spending their last hours of liberty and probably of life in giving wine to their slayers and in dancing and singing for their amusement!

Already, however, the power of the enchanted wine had begun to work and Shutendoji grew drowsy.

The wine in the jar never seemed to grow less, however much was taken from it, and by this time all the demons had helped themselves liberally.

At last they all fell into a deep sleep, and stretching themselves out on the floor and on one another, some in one corner and some in another, they were soon snoring so loudly that the room shook, and were as insensible to all that was going on as logs of wood.

"The time has come!"

said Raiko, springing to his feet, and motioning to his men to get to work.

One and all hastily opened their knapsacks.

Taking out their helmets, their armour, and their long swords, they armed themselves.

When they were all ready they all knelt down, and, placing their hands palm to palm, they prayed fervently to their patron gods to help them now in their hour of greatest need and peril.

As they prayed, a shining light filled the room, and in a radiant cloud the three deities appeared again.

"Fear not, Warrior Raiko," they said.

"We have tied the hands and feet of the demon fast, so you have nothing to fear.

While your knights cut off his limbs, do you cut off his head;

then kill the rest of the _oni_ and your work will be done."

The three old men then disappeared as mysteriously as they had come.

Raiko rejoiced at the vision and worshipped with his heart full of gratitude the vanishing deities.

The knights then rose from their knees, took their swords and wet the rivets with water, so as to fix the blade firmly in the hilt.

Then they all stole stealthily and cautiously towards Shutendoji.

No longer the timid mountain priests; clad in full armour, they were transformed into avenging warriors.

With flashing eyes and dauntless mien they moved across the room.

The captive princesses standing round realized that these men were deliverers, from their beloved capital.

Their joy and wonder cannot be put into words.

Some cried aloud with joy; others covered their faces with their sleeves and burst into soft weeping; others raised their hands to Heaven and exclaimed, "A Buddha come to Hell!

Surely these brave men will kill the demons and set us free"; and with clasped hands they entreated the knights to slay their captors and take them back to their homes.

Now Raiko stood over the sleeping Shutendoji with drawn sword, and raising it on high with a mighty sweep he aimed at the demon's neck, which was as big round as a barrel.

The head was severed from the body at one blow, but, horrible to relate, instead of falling to the ground, it flew up into the air in a great rage.

It hung over Raiko for a moment snorting flames of fire, and then swooped down as if it would bite off the warrior's head, but it was daunted by the glittering star on his helmet, and drew back and gazed in surprise at the transformed man.

Raiko was scorched by the demon's flaming breath.

Once more he raised his long sword and striking the terrible head brought it to the ground at last.

The noise of the combat and the triumphant shouts of the warriors awoke the other demons, who roused themselves as quickly as their stupefied senses allowed them.

They were in a great fright, and without waiting to get their iron clubs, they made a rush upon Raiko.

But they were too late.

His five braves dashed in and attacked them right and left, until in a few minutes there was not one left to tell the tale of the destruction which had come down upon them like the autumn whirlwind upon the leaves of the forest glades.

The captive princesses, when they saw that their captors were all slain, jumped about with gladness, waving their long sleeves to and fro, as the tears of joy streamed down their pale faces.

They ran to Raiko and caught hold of his sleeves and praised him, saying: "Oh!

Raiko Sama, what a brave and noble knight you are!

We are indeed grateful to you for having saved our lives.

Never have we seen such a wonderful warrior."

And with many such expressions of joy they gathered round the knight, and their merry voices were now heard, instead of the groans of the dying cannibals.

Now that Shutendoji was vanquished with all his horde, the way was quite open for Raiko and his men to take the fair captives away from the castle of horror and make their way back to the capital as soon as possible.

[Illustration: THE HEAD FLEW UP INTO THE AIR] First of all Raiko tied up the head of Shutendoji with a strong rope and told the five brave knights to carry it.

Then, followed by the princesses, the little band left Mount Oye forever and set out on the homeward journey.

When they reached Kyoto the news of Raiko's return spread like fire, and the people came out in crowds to welcome the heroes.

When the parents of the long-lost damsels saw their daughters again, they felt as if they must be dreaming.

It seemed too good to be true that the dear and cherished ones should be restored to them safe and well, and they overwhelmed Raiko with praise and with precious gifts.

Raiko took the head of Shutendoji to the Emperor and told him of all that had happened to him.

You may be sure that when His Majesty heard of the success which had crowned Raiko and his expedition, he awarded him great praise and merit and bestowed upon him higher Court rank than ever.

In all the country, far and near, Raiko's name was in every one's mouth, and he was acknowledged to be the greatest warrior in the land.

Even in the lonely country places there was not one poor farmer who did not know of the brave deeds of the great general.

Ever since then his portrait is familiar to the boys of Japan, for it is often painted on their kites.

[1] Raiko, or Yorimitsu.

Both names are written with the same ideographs.

Raiko is the Chinese pronunciation, and Yorimitsu the Japanese rendering.

[2] Hakama, a divided skirt, part of the Japanese costume.