Bunkichi, as he gave them a scornful smile, stood up with his dagger in his hand and said: “I’ll sweep him down with this sword if any such creature makes his appearance.”
“He drew his sword and ran toward the monster”
Just then the man on watch suddenly shrieked: “Ah! the sea-giant has come!” And he ran back toward the stern while the others were frightened out of their wits and ran down into the cabin where they drew their heads back between their shoulders and held their breath in fear. Bunkichi looked toward the bow. Sure enough, a big undefined dark form rose at the front of the ship, about ten feet in height. He drew his sword and ran toward the monster. As he swept the giant down with his sharp weapon, he laughingly returned toward Kichidayu, who stood by the mast.
“What was that?” Kichidayu asked Bunkichi, who answered, still smiling: “It did look like a round-headed giant, but really it was only a column of mist which came floating in our way. That’s what they call the ‘sea-giant,’ I suppose, and in their fright they fancied it was coming on board to seize them.”
Kichidayu, who was much surprised at Bunkichi’s courage, said: “Indeed! I understand now how you could kill the wanizame, by the courage you have just shown, and which I cannot but admire. To speak the truth, I didn’t feel very bold myself when I saw that big dark form, but I screwed my courage up so as not to be laughed at by you.”
As the crew had not yet come out of their cabin, Kichidayu called out: “Now, men, come up; your master has killed the giant. Come quick, quick!”
The crew trooped out at this, and said: “Truly we heard a shriek a little while ago!” At which Kichidayu muttered, “Fools!”
During the night, however, they got over the Sea of Yenshiu in this manner, and in the very early morning of the third day they were entering the Bay of Yedo. Gradually the sea was becoming much smoother.
“We are safe, master. We can, too, be quite at ease in our hearts!” said one of the men. “Ah! I see the headland of Haneda there. Beyond that there’s the Bay of Shinagawa. If we go forward at this rate we shall be at Yedo by dawn: I feel safe now. But I felt that I would be eaten alive when I saw the umi-bozu at the Yenshiu-nada Sea.”