"General Attiska falls prostrate before the illustrious and all-powerful Minamoto Hieyas. Happy days are followed by wretched days; and I have the shame and sorrow to announce a disaster. The tunnel scheme, so carefully elaborated by your lofty intellect, was carried out. With vast pains, thousands of soldiers, working night and day, finally finished the work; we were sure of success. But Marisiten, the God of Battles, was cruel to us. By I know not what treachery, Yoke-Moura was forewarned; and I scarcely dare confess to you that five thousand heroes met their death in the narrow passage which we dug, while the enemy lost not a single man. We have regained the position in the village lost for a time. Nothing therefore is yet compromised, and I hope soon to be able to send you the news of a brilliant victory. "Written beneath the walls of Osaka, this fifth day of the seventh moon, in the first year of the Shogun Fide-Tadda." "A fine piece of news indeed, my friends!" said the Prince, who read the letter aloud; "and I will take it to Hieyas myself. I am anxious to enter his camp--to insinuate myself into his very tent." "Then you are not friends of Hieyas, as you said?" asked one of the messengers. "No, we are no friends of his!" said Nagato; "but what difference does that make to you, so long as I agree to carry the message in your place?" "That's true! After all, it's all one to me; the more so as the bearer of ill tidings is apt to be ill received." "Where is Hieyas' camp?" "Half-an-hour's journey from here." "In which direction?" "To the left, on the borders of the plain; he is quartered in a wood." "Hieyas is there in person?" "He is." "Is there a password to enter the camp?" "There is!" said the messenger, reluctantly. "You know it?" "Of course; but I ought not to reveal it." "Then Hieyas won't get the message." "That's so! You have fully made up your mind to keep us?" "Entirely!" said Nagato; "and to do you no harm if you speak the truth; to kill you if you deceive us." "Well, then, the password is: Mikawa." "The name of the province over which Hieyas is ruler," said Nagato. "Exactly! Moreover you must show the sentinels three chrysanthemum leaves engraved on an iron plate." The speaker drew a tiny iron plate from his girdle, and gave it to the Prince. "Is that all?" asked Nagato; "have you told the truth?" "I swear I have. Besides, our lives are in your hands, and answer for our sincerity." "Best yourselves, then; but give us your hats and straw cloaks." The messengers obeyed; then lay down to sleep in one corner of the hut. "You will go with me, Raiden," said the Prince. The sailor, proud to be chosen, held his head erect. "And I?" said Loo, with a wry face.