"I am the germ of smallpox," answered the pigmy.
"And why have you come here to Oshima?"
"I come to seize hold of the inhabitants!"
"You would spread the hateful pestilence—Silence! I am Hachiro."
At that the smallpox microbe shrank and shrank until he was the size of a pea, and then he floated away for ever, as mysteriously as he had come.
On hearing of this, the Minister of State decided that Hachiro was becoming too powerful and popular a hero. When the young man saw the soldiers approaching the island, he seized his bow and, pulling it to the shape of a half-moon, sent an arrow that upset the boat and pitched the soldiers into the sea. After thinking the matter over, however, he decided that if he fought against the Government it would bring disaster upon the islanders who loved him, and it would be better to die at the height of his glory. So he committed hara-kiri and thus saved himself from all dishonour and the people of Oshima from further trouble.
ARMOUR AND WEAPONS OF ANCIENT WARRIORS.