Strong and vigorous of body, mind, and heart, as only those are who are at peace with the world, he arose and briskly crossed the room to the inner veranda. Then, casting off his night kimono, he lightly tripped down upon a marble slab, and running along the smooth footpath to an arbour, overhung with vine and flower, plunged into the bracing waters already prepared for his coming. After the bath, massage, and shave, attended by waiting servants, he donned walking apparel and sprang down along the winding walk among dwarfed trees, under artificial cliffs, and around miniature mountains; here he crossed a red-lacquered bridge and there passed a gorge or waterfall; coming, presently, to a crystal lake, he made an unsuccessful throw or two, then cast his rod aside and continued his tramp in the open or through the brush and bamboo to a distant corner of the garden. Here he slackened his gait and with reverence approached the solemn shrine wherein stood the tomb of Hajama, the illustrious founder of his august family; and there, in the quiet, and alone, at the base of this strangely carved monument, he knelt and clapped his hands and reverently bowed to the spirit of his immortal ancestor. When his morning prayer was finished Maido quietly left the misty place and walked out again into the freshness of life and past the playground where groups of children romped on the green or chattered with childish glee. As he passed them by he paused only to look at them for a moment and then walked on toward the great gate in front. Now and then he stooped to pluck a leaflet, or stood listening to the tuneful zephyrs as they played among the branches; sometimes he stopped to watch the light and shadows chase each other across the grassy sward, or started at the sonorous, "Haugh! Haugh! Haugh!" wafted from high overhead. "Truly he is the master bird," sighed he, as he watched the black thing perching upon a lofty branch or soaring above, issuing his harrowing notes and stirring the nerves of superstitious Japan. Presently, as usual upon such occasions, Okyo emerged from a cluster of bushes and came bowing and bumping and crawling--half confident, half fearful--after his master; who now stood admiring the huge wisteria which overhung the black-lacquered gate and bronze trimmings. Observing the boy's presence, Maido said, kindly, and without turning around: "Heigh! is that you, Okyo, my funny little slave? Pray tell me what brings you here so early in the day?" "Heigh! I thought you might be lonely and I'd come and drive away the fox." "But, my lad, what have you been doing that your kimono is wet and covered with mud?" "I've been down at the beach fishing for crabs. I wonder why Kami doesn't make crabs grow on land?" "My child, he has placed them in the waters of the deep sea so that none but the industrious and the brave may enjoy so choice a food." "Are daimyos industrious and brave?"