of Mito, Takeda Kōunsai by name, who conceived a great desire to serve his country by some distinguished deed of valour or act of wisdom, and who, for that purpose, collected a band of like-minded knights and set out for Kyōto. But the fear of the Tokugawa Government still lay heavy on the majority of the clans, and travelling from district to district was both dangerous and and difficult, and so it came to pass that after making their way safely, through many perils, as far as Echizen, the little band was one day suddenly arrested, and forthwith clapped into prison.
2. At this the whole of the samurai were thrown into an agony of despair and indignation, their anger being especially furious when they thought of the unjust way in which had been arrested; and once they went so far in their fury as to seize the arm of the officer who was passing their food into the cell through a little window, and to maltreat it shamefully.
3. But I must tell you that in this band of wandering knights there was one, a mere lad
