He started off at a gallop. He rode for a long time, pausing occasionally to listen. At last he heard a distant barking, although the shore lay desolate before him. He stopped, and looked in all directions.
The barking came from the mountains; the sound of horses' hoofs was also indistinctly heard.
Suddenly, without a break, the sounds became loud and clear. Black dogs sprang from a narrow gorge between the hills, speedily followed by men on horseback.
The entire hunt passed before the young man. He recognized the Kisaki by the red gauze veil which floated around her. Some of the princesses held a hooded falcon upon their left fist. The lords bent forward, ready to let fly their arrows; each grasped a huge black lacquer bow.
As all the hunters had their heads thrown back, and were watching a falcon chasing a buzzard, high in the heavens, they passed without observing the young warrior. The latter at once rode alongside of them.
The dogs started a pheasant, which rose screaming from a bush. A fresh falcon was unleashed.
As he rode, the soldier sought out, among the nobles, the Prince of Nagato, and approached him.
"Stay, Iwakura!" he cried; "Fide-Yori sends me to you."
The Prince turned his head with a start; he drew in his horse. They lingered behind.
"Signenari!" exclaimed Nagato, as he recognized the young leader. "What has happened?"