“How now, Bunkichi? Did you see the shark?”
“Yes, sir, I saw it,” was the reply.
“And now that you have seen the monster are you less disposed to go out to sea?”
“No; on the contrary,” replied the lad, “I am the more ready to go.”
“Isn’t that obstinacy on your part?”
“Not in the least, sir,” the lad said, as he drew himself up; “the greater the opponent, the greater the interest and strength that are called for; and I am about to do this at the risk of my life. I well observed the spot where the shark comes up, and noticed a large pine-tree which projects over the sea from the precipice. If some one will let fall a stout rope from one of its branches, I will row over to it, and there I shall entice the shark to swallow the straw dummy; then if the shark, in plunging about, should upset my boat, I shall take hold of the rope and climb or be hauled up the precipice.”
The master, who was once more struck by words which showed so much sagacity as well as courage, said:
“That’s a very good idea of yours. Then this is what we shall decide to do, is it? I shall send out some of my young men to the Sumiyoshi bluff to fix a rope to the pine branch from the precipice, and you will tie the rope to your waist before you go out on your venture. I and others will stand upon the cliff and watch you, and should you be in danger of being swallowed by the monster, we shall lose no time in hauling you up. Is that to be our plan of action?”
“Yes, that’s the plan,” was the boy’s reply.
“Well, then, I have bought the poison, and can soon have ready as many as three dummies. When do you think of setting out?”