“No, sir,” said the lad; “the temmabune is too big for me to row alone, so I prefer the small one.”
“But I am in great concern about your personal safety if you go alone,” said the master. “I will give ten rio to any one who will go with you.”
Though he quickly made known this offer to the members of his household as well as among his neighbors, no one ventured to offer himself on account of the people’s repeated and terrible experiences. Bunkichi soothed his master, saying that he was much freer if left to act by himself than he would be if there were others with him. Quickly putting the three dummies into the small boat outside the garden gate, with marvelous coolness, as if he were going out for pleasure, he said: “Good-by, everybody; I will go now, and be back again soon.”
The master, who was first to stir, led out to the jetty some of his young men as well as some strong coolies. Three or four big ropes having been made ready, he said:
“Now, Bunkichi, tie one of these to your waist.”
“It’s no use, sir, till I get near the mountain,” replied the lad, but the master said:
“But just think, if on your way out the shark should turn up! We shall pull you along the coast while you will row as near as you can to the land.”
Bunkichi, who couldn’t resist the master’s persuasion, let him tie the rope round his waist, and the master himself took hold of the end of it and together with others went along the shore toward Sumiyoshi bluff.
Bunkichi, having been brought up at the seaside, was an excellent rower, but as they pulled along the rope he rowed but slightly. Suddenly he took out a dagger which had been handed down from his ancestors and unsheathed it, smiling as he noted the temper of the steel.
Who spread the news no one knew, yet the people in the town came out in a crowd, and every one was surprised to see a boy, alone in a boat, sallying forth to kill the monster.