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" '
ABOUT YOSHITSUNE. 137
It 's the ghosts of the He'ike' that are causing
this trouble,' whispered the frightened sailors one to
the other.
" '
Aye,' said the captain, as the black tassel on
the prow tossed wildly in the air like the mane of a
horse, 'behold them ! there they are.'
" Yoshitsune", ever brave, and fearing not even the
spirits of his dead enemies, rushed forward with
drawn sword to meet the pallid ghosts that crowded
on the curling wave-tops, unmindful of tossing spray.
In the van stood the leader Tomomori, with the butterfly
crest of the Hie"k on his cap and on the breast
of his robes. Behind him crowded the shadowy
forms of his followers, with wind-scattered hair and
pale faces like corpses. All the shades had their
spears or drawn swords in their hands.
"Vainly did Yoshitsune brandish his sword and
bid the ghostly throng advance and fight or else go
down and disappear. But there they stood breathing
out defiance, while Yoshitsun6 found his own
blood curdling and his arm a-wearying.
" ' Sheathe your sword,' said Benke'i ;
'
I will lay
the shades.'
" Then mounting to the prow until he was within
a spear's length of the ghosts, he clasped his rosary
of beads in his hands, bowed his head, and waved
his string of lotus seeds, uttering his prayers.
Down, down out of sight sank the spectral host,
gradually fading into thin air. In a minute's space
nothing was seen but the plashing waves. The sea
became calm and soon they reached the land in
safety.