The voice apparently penetrated even to the inner room, for Chobei came out and was also surprised by the man’s appearance, but said: “Nothing can be more fortunate for us than to have the assistance of Mr. Matahachi, who is noted in the whole of Yedo for his physical strength. Please help us in our work by distributing the bento in this big, light-wood chest.”
With ready acquiescence Matahachi laid aside the heavy baggage on his back. “This is my furniture,” he said; “please keep it for me.” The rattling sound of iron and china in the chest made those near by wonder at the forethought with which he had made provision against the contingency of a fire, and by which he had been enabled to move away at once with all his household goods.
Having safely stowed away his possessions, Matahachi lifted the big wooden chest, now packed with bento, and by means of a rope put it on his back, and, holding the big pole of hard oak-wood in his right hand and the paper flag in his left, started forth to the scene of ruin, with one coolie to assist him.
As he called out in a loud, deep tone of voice to announce the charity, the people turned to him in astonishment and soon came flocking around him. The attendant coolie, standing behind, distributed the bento from the chest on Matahachi’s back with no inconvenience. So these two finished their task in less time than it would have taken five or six men to do it with ordinary methods. On their way back to Kinokuniya, when they came to a crowded place Matahachi put forth his staff, and by pushing the crowd to one side made his way through without any hindrance.
In one of those crowded places he heard the shrieking cry of a girl. Forcing his way to the spot, he found a girl of twelve or thirteen years of age who could not get up on account of being trodden down by the crowd. Being naturally of a chivalrous character, he soon helped the girl up and asked whether she had not her parents with her.
She sobbed, and said: “We all ran away when the fire broke out, and I became separated from my parents!”
As he could not leave her there, he said: “That cannot be helped. If you wander about here you may be trampled to death. I will take you to a better place if you will get into my empty chest.” So the coolie helped her in, and they hastened on to Fukagawa.
At another time he saw an old woman of about threescore years, half dead, lying by the wayside with her dress partly burned. He felt he could not leave her behind in such a state, so she, too, was put into the bamboo basket by the side of the girl.
Having got back to Fukagawa, he said to Chobei: “I rescued these two on the way home. Give them the treatment which is suited to their need.” He handed them over to the acting master, who thanked Matahachi, and thus addressed the other bands of coolies: “To give away the bento alone does not cover the whole work of charity; whenever any of you are coming back with empty chests, you, too, had better bring people home, if such help is needed as these two received.” And a cordial reception was given to the old woman as well as to the young girl.
During such a fire there were naturally many lost children and aged persons who might have been trodden down under foot. Having understood Chobei’s instructions, the other bands from that time were sure to bring back two or three who needed help. To any who were thus brought in Chobei gave proper treatment, and as he gave the coolies prizes they worked with great zeal and diligence. Kamada Matahachi went in and out of the fire ruins many times a day and repeated the same charitable work. The five or six hundred coolies did their best, also, and, in consequence, at the reservoir there was a continuous trooping out with the bento and trooping in of the people; and by the night of the 19th there were 2800 rescued persons, old and young, all told, who had been brought to this temporary shelter.