"I cannot guess your schemes," said Fide-Yori; "but I am sure that you will do nothing that is not noble and heroic. Go, my friend."
Prince Nagato returned to his palace, where he found assembled some twenty samurai, his vassals, who came to ask his orders.
"Hold yourself in readiness to travel," said the Prince; "collect your servants and prepare your baggage. Before sunset you shall know my purpose."
Nagato went up to his own apartments; but as he approached them a strange noise fell upon his ear.
"What is going on?" he muttered. He hurriedly entered the room opening from his bedchamber. He then discovered that it was little Loo who was making all this uproar by his own unaided efforts. He was armed with a notched sword, and revolved around a screen decorated with life-sized figures of warriors. Loo stamped his foot, uttered singular howls, insulted these motionless warriors, and transfixed them mercilessly with his weapon.
"What are you about there?" cried the Prince, half angry, half amused.
Loo, at sight of his master, threw down his sword and fell on his knees.
"What does all this mean?" repeated Nagato. "Why are you hacking my furniture to pieces?"
"I am practising for the war," said Loo, in a voice which he vainly strove to render piteous. "That," he added, pointing to the screen, "is the castle of Owari, with its garrison; I was the army of the Shogun."
The Prince bit his lips, to hide his mirth.