They had gone back into the open, turning again toward a course to the southward; bearing a little to the west, along the well-travelled roadway that led directly into the main pass over the mountains through Mino, for Mikawa, Ieyasu's domain; where stood Okazaki castle, his birthplace and inherited fortress. To this place, enchanted as it now seemed to her, Yodogima would have gone a willing slave to its master's caprice and otherwise still a devoted helpmeet in the rendering of an established and expansive, if cruelly submissive order. It was yet dark, but the bettos pattered along at a lively gait; a trifling advance promised in their wage had allayed any misgivings that they might have had as to a possible change of leaders; and glad, moreover, of the less burdensome or hazardous going now confronting them, their progress became as rapid as the escape seemed propitious. The way lay through a richly cultivated and thickly inhabited valley, bespeaking a prosperous and friendly environment. Yet it was dark, and these things were not discernible--no lingering light shone forth, nor belated dweller accidentally peered--save for an occasional howling round some dismal corner, or the hard, smooth-worn curbstone's welcome reply. Yodogima leaned restfully back in the chair; Jokoin, her youngest sister, yet innocent and fair, had gone to sleep, contentedly: only Esyo, next older, with cold, penetrating look, and rigid, exacting manner, sat upright, wrangling with this one or that the probable outcome of such daring do. "You are a winsome, headstrong thing," threatened she, of Yodogima, as their chairs came close together, in a broadened stretch of road, where the bettos were wont to gossip in venturesome consultation about a possible rest. "Only for you, I might have been permitted--as any true daughter should be--a more logical, if not less unbecoming, situation. Here it is, dead of night; and Shibata, a lord daimyo's whole bevy most uncomfortably trudging through goodness knows what; and all to no purpose, I am sure." "Be quiet, Esyo," commanded Yodogima, not the least bit impatient; "you shall soon enough find it convenient, if not agreeable, to discuss till content some of the urgencies: the proprieties had best take care of themselves--for the present, it would appear, to your faithful, if unworthy, sister." "Who said that you are unworthy? Come, Yodogima; don't be unreasonable." "Please do not get excited." "I am not excited, I tell you; and had you my temper you should not have fallen in love with that Ieyasu; nor would you have so forgotten yourself as to wholly disregard better discretion by clinging to him--why didn't you tell father it was a myth, the face a mysticism, and his decision most unreasonably mystifying--" "Oh, sister; how you talk; in that case you shouldn't have been here, or anywhere; and, Ieyasu is very real." "Quite like all the rest: a pack of them--all of them, every one like the other."