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140 HONDA THE SAMURAI.
Benke'i trained them to recite the chants and prayers
like true priests. So they practiced till they were
perfect.
" Lord Yoritomo, thinking that Yoshitsune would
assume this disguise, had sent word to all the military
posts. At all the important roads and mountainpasses
in the empire there were barrier-gates and
guard-houses. The sentinels had orders to arrest
and examine all wandering friars. *
"Benke'i and his company passed through Omi
and Echizen, and the tree under which Yoshitsune
stopped and hung up his book-box or portable shrine,
while he rested, is still pointed out in our province.
At He*isenji, the temple north of our city, the chief
abbot asked for music, and while Benke'i played
the koto (harp) Yoshitsune* accompanied him on
the flute. Reaching the barrier at Ataga, in Kaga,
the captain of the guard promptly refused to let
them pass, on the ground that they were rebels in
disguise.
" '
Nay, my lord ;
we are priests from Nara, and are
on our way to collect subscriptions to rebuild the
great temple destroyed by fire.'
"'If you really are priests and not impostors,' said
the guard officer, '
let me hear you chant the ritual
of your sect.'
" '
Aye, your honor, we will,' said Benkei, who
commanded his band to sit down on the ground.
Then they recited from memory, chanting a long
passage from the sacred books.
" With this part the officer was satisfied ; but