With these words the man struck the horse a sound blow on the crupper; but cunning fellow that he was, he also gave the bridle a backward twist before releasing it.
Like one possessed the animal reared, and started off—not the way his rider wished to go, but straight back in the opposite direction.
“The devil!” cried Terumasa.
He tried to pull up; to turn round; but in vain. The horse blessed with more sense than his master knew which way safety lay and that way he meant to pursue. Presently, however, his pace relaxed and Terumasa exerting all his strength managed to arrest his flight. Patting him gently on the neck and speaking soothing words Terumasa at length succeeded in turning him round, and was once more on the point of performing his rash act when once more he was stopped by Dansuké, who running up, quite out of breath, a second time seized the bridle.
“Would you check me again, scoundrel?” shouted Terumasa. “Let go, let go, I say, or you’ll repent it!”
Raising his whip again and again he brought it down each time with telling force on the head and shoulders of the man who dared to thwart him; but, nothing daunted, Dansuké held on like grim death though the blood was streaming from the cuts he received.
“My lord, my lord,” he gasped. “I entreat you to be calm, and to consider for a few moments. Of what avail is this desperate action?”
“What, would you have me sit down quietly under this double loss? Would you have me show myself an undutiful son as well as a disloyal vassal? Are the vile miscreants to slay as they please and go unpunished? Never! Let me go, I say!”
“No, no, my dear young master, I will not let you go.... I will not let you go thus blindly in your rage to certain death.... What is one man among so many? Do not think I do not understand your feelings.... I do, I do.... But, my lord, when you perish in a foolhardy, though brave, attempt to avenge the death of your honoured father and brother, who, bethink you, will be left to carry on the family name?... What will become of the noble house of Ikeda? If you follow your relatives to Hades in this precipitate fashion, will your father be pleased? Will he commend your devotion and say ‘My son, you have done right to follow me!’ Will he not rather inquire ‘In whose care have you left the honour of our family and its concerns?’ Your filial and fraternal affection is altogether admirable, but your desire for revenge should not blind you to the higher duty that awaits you—the duty you owe to a long line of illustrious ancestors, the handing on of an untarnished name.... I do not urge that you should give up all thoughts of vengeance only that you should postpone their execution to a more propitious season. It is unworthy of yourself to give way to this uncontrollable passion. Think of the responsibility that rests upon you as the sole representative of your family now that my honoured lord, your father, and his son are no more. The time will surely come when you will thank me for the restraint that so enrages you to-day. Oh, my dear young master, do not be angry, but listen to the words of your devoted servant.”