Ieyasu would fight, if needs be, but could not bear an insult, particularly at the hands of this so-called monkey-faced upstart--though he had just routed Shibata and now bade fair to win over their mutual friend Maeda. "Come closer," said Ieyasu, "if you would really know the contents of this significant little bag; I may not soon again have such pleasure." "My sword, if you like, Ieyasu." "No, thanks; you may yourself have need to use it." "Upon my word; you don't mean to infer the thing's alive?" suggested Maeda, a little nervous. "Look," demanded Ieyasu, apparently somewhat angered. "As I said; but what did you do with its body; I see only the face?" retorted Hideyoshi. "What is it, Maeda?" inquired Ieyasu, a bit perturbed. "A fox!" stammered the host, fairly white in the face. "It's a trick, I'll promise," ventured Ieyasu, no longer doubtful of Hideyoshi's motive--or powers. "Then let us turn it to some good use; friends have no better guarantee than constancy; I'll carry it back, to where you got it, and see it's done; wrangling widens only the gulf it would span; the circle is but a square not wholly produced," said Hideyoshi, fully conscious of Ieyasu's master intention. "Silly twaddle, for serious men," muttered Maeda, upon parting and going each his way, as solemnly if doubtfully pledged. The flames were yet raging when Hideyoshi reached the outskirts of Kitinoshi; Shibata had sooner entered the city, and lest any part of his treasured place should escape expurgation the sorely beaten and vainly tried daimyo began resolutely to apply the torch upon passing the outer ramparts, and did not cease until the fire had spread in every direction. Inside the palace all was confusion. His intimate friends had gathered in a last sad attempt to console a dying chieftain. For a lifetime they had served him and his and now that the time had come they would do him honor in death. "It is the will of Kami (God)," said he, "that I am defeated. Do you serve me yet?" "Yes," they all cried, eagerly. "Then it is meet that I do something to show my appreciation of such loyalty. Let a feast be spread and the sake brought in and music provided that we make merry, for to-morrow we shall be--dead." The flames roared and raged without, and they sang and danced and composed until a late hour. Not a soul there would but suffer the torments of hades to quench the thirst for chivalry--they should have died a thousand times to die an honorable death, to go peacefully to rest in the embrace of a master's rite. Presently the fires burned low on the outside, and the spirit increased correspondingly within; the sake cup was passed round, each taking his final leave. "Asai, my good wife," inquired Shibata, "will you not go from the castle? Hideyoshi will not harm you, a daughter of Nobunaga."