34 Shadow! ngs 



the Dragon ; l but he knew that he had no time 

 to lose. 



He went at once to an inyosbi* and begged for 

 succor. The inyosbi knew the story of the dead 

 woman ; and he had seen the body. He said to 

 the supplicant : "A very great danger threatens 

 you. I will try to save you. But you must 

 promise to do whatever I shall tell you to do. 

 There is only one way by which you can be 

 saved. It is a fearful way. But unless you find 

 the courage to attempt it, she will tear you limb 

 from limb. If you can be brave, come to me 

 again in the evening before sunset." The man 

 shuddered ; but he promised to do whatever 

 should be required of him. 



At sunset the inyosbi went with him to the 

 house where the body was lying. The inyoshi 

 pushed open the sliding-doors, and told his client 

 to enter. It was rapidly growing dark. " I dare 



1 Tatsu no Koku, or the Hour of the Dragon, by old 

 Japanese time, began at about eight o'clock in the morn 

 ing. 



2 Inyosbi, a professor or master of the science of in-yo, 

 the old Chinese nature-philosophy, based upon the 

 theory of a male and a female principle pervading the 

 universe. 



