He tore up a reed and was about to hurl it into the river when it struck him that if the root had earth on it the sagacious Nobufusa would conclude that some one was hiding in the vicinity and order his soldiers to make a strict search. That would be fatal to his enterprise. He, therefore, washed the mud off the reed and then threw it into the stream. Immediately it got entangled in the network of ropes and set all the clappers clattering loudly, “gara-gara, gara-gara.”
On the instant two sentinels leapt into the water and drew the reed to land. It was taken to Nobufusa who carefully examined the root by the light of a torch.
“There is nothing suspicious about this reed,” said the general. “It is of no consequence.”
Katsutaka, peering intently from his hiding place on the other side, felt his heart sink.
“It is hopeless to think of crossing,” he said to himself.
After a few moments of despondency he once more uprooted a reed and washing off the mud as before cast it into the river. Again the clappers were set a-going and again some of the men plunged into the water to seek the cause.
“Another reed, my lord,” said the man who handed it to the general.
“The reeds are being washed off the bank by the flood,” he remarked after examining the reed. “It is nothing; but nevertheless do not relax your vigilance, my men.”
Katsutaka now picked up a dead branch that had been washed ashore, and threw it at the ropes, and after that another reed. So he went on, throwing now one thing, now another, keeping the clappers rattling so unintermittingly that in time Nobufusa’s soldiers ceased to take notice of the sound and no longer dashed into the river at every fresh repetition. Still, however, Katsutaka could not venture to enter the river himself, for watchful eyes never left off scanning the dark waters. Time was passing. What could he do? Katsutaka was well-nigh in despair. To return and confess he had failed at the very outset was insupportable—unthinkable even!
Just then he heard the roll of a drum—the guard was being relieved. Nobufusa’s men retired and Atobé Ōinosuké’s took their place.