When the temple bells announced the hour of dawn, Chūgorō tried to get up, and fell back senseless. He was evidently sick,—deathly sick. A Chinese physician was summoned.
"Why, the man has no blood!" exclaimed the doctor, after a careful examination;—"there is nothing but water in his veins! It will be very difficult to save him.... What maleficence is this?"
*
Everything was done that could be done to save Chūgorō's life—but in vain. He died as the sun went down. Then his comrade related the whole story.
"Ah! I might have suspected as much!" exclaimed the doctor.... "No power could have saved him. He was not the first whom she destroyed."
"Who is she?—or what is she?" the ashigaru asked,—"a Fox-Woman?"
"No; she has been haunting this river from ancient time. She loves the blood of the young...."
"A Serpent-Woman?—A Dragon-Woman?"
"No, no! If you were to see her under that bridge by daylight, she would appear to you a very loathsome creature."
"But what kind of a creature?"