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JAPAN^S DOUBLE GOVERNMENT. 109
at the post of danger, bow in hand ; and every time
he twanged the string an enemy fell, until a comrade
turned his horse's head. Then Yoritomo and
six followers escaped up a side path and dispersed,
taking oath to meet again.
"A knight named Kumagaye' stayed with him, and
pointing out a hollow tree put Yoritomo in it, while
he fled a little farther on. Yoritomo crawled into
one end of the log, the other being covered with
spider's webs, and there held his breath. In a few
minutes one of the enemy's scouts came along in
eager search. Seeing the log, the soldier poked his
bow several times inside and actually touched Yori-
tomo's sleeve. At this moment two wood-pigeons
flew out clapping their wings loudly, and a heavy
from the
shower of rain began to fall. Thinking
spider's web and the birds that no one could possi-
bly be inside, and not caring to risk a drenching,
the Taira men gave up the hunt.
"In gratitude to his faithful retainer, Yoritomo
afterward conferred upon Kumagaye* the heraldic
reward of a curtain marked with a mistletoe, which
grows on old and dead trees, and two wood-pigeons
flapping their wings. This became Kumagaye"s
crest and he inscribed it upon his banners.
" Yoritomo, after waiting a while, crawled out and
hid with a Buddhist priest in a monastery near the
lakeside. From this place he escaped to Awa, and
raised troops again. As he marched through the
country, bands of Genji retainers joined his forces,
as the mountain rills swell the stream ; and the