Japanese Fairy Tales | Page 6

both rose to their feet and rushed to the balcony, and the warrior
saw on the opposite mountain two great balls of glowing fire coming nearer and nearer.
The Dragon King stood by the warrior's side trembling with fear.
"The centipede! The centipede! Those two balls of fire are its eyes. It is coming for its
prey! Now is the time to kill it."
Hidesato looked where his host pointed, and, in the dim light of the starlit evening,
behind the two balls of fire he saw the long body of an enormous centipede winding
round the mountains, and the light in its hundred feet glowed like so many distant
lanterns moving slowly towards the shore.
Hidesato showed not the least sign of fear. He tried to calm the Dragon King.
"Don't be afraid. I shall surely kill the centipede. Just bring me my bow and arrows."
The Dragon King did as he was bid, and the warrior noticed that he had only three arrows
left in his quiver. He took the bow, and fitting an arrow to the notch, took careful aim and
let fly.
The arrow hit the centipede right in the middle of its head, but instead of penetrating, it
glanced off harmless and fell to the ground.
Nothing daunted, Hidesato took another arrow, fitted it to the notch of the bow and let fly.
Again the arrow hit the mark, it struck the centipede right in the middle of its head, only
to glance off and fall to the ground. The centipede was invulnerable to weapons! When
the Dragon King saw that even this brave warrior's arrows were powerless to kill the
centipede, he lost heart and began to tremble with fear.
The warrior saw that he had now only one arrow left in his quiver, and if this one failed
he could not kill the centipede. He looked across the waters. The huge reptile had wound
its horrid body seven times round the mountain and would soon come down to the lake.
Nearer and nearer gleamed fireballs of eyes, and the light of its hundred feet began to
throw reflections in the still waters of the lake.
Then suddenly the warrior remembered that he had heard that human saliva was deadly to

centipedes. But this was no ordinary centipede. This was so monstrous that even to think
of such a creature made one creep with horror. Hidesato determined to try his last chance.
So taking his last arrow and first putting the end of it in his mouth, he fitted the notch to
his bow, took careful aim once more and let fly.
This time the arrow again hit the centipede right in the middle of its head, but instead of
glancing off harmlessly as before, it struck home to the creature's brain. Then with a
convulsive shudder the serpentine body stopped moving, and the fiery light of its great
eyes and hundred feet darkened to a dull glare like the sunset of a stormy day, and then
went out in blackness. A great darkness now overspread the heavens, the thunder rolled
and the lightning flashed, and the wind roared in fury, and it seemed as if the world were
coming to an end. The Dragon King and his children and retainers all crouched in
different parts of the palace, frightened to death, for the building was shaken to its
foundation. At last the dreadful night was over. Day dawned beautiful and clear. The
centipede was gone from the mountain.
Then Hidesato called to the Dragon King to come out with him on the balcony, for the
centipede was dead and he had nothing more to fear.
Then all the inhabitants of the palace came out with joy, and Hidesato pointed to the lake.
There lay the body of the dead centipede floating on the water, which was dyed red with
its blood.
The gratitude of the Dragon King knew no bounds. The whole family came and bowed
down before the warrior, calling him their preserver and the bravest warrior in all Japan.
Another feast was prepared, more sumptuous than the first. All kinds of fish, prepared in
every imaginable way, raw, stewed, boiled and roasted, served on coral trays and crystal
dishes, were put before him, and the wine was the best that Hidesato had ever tasted in
his life. To add to the beauty of everything the sun shone brightly, the lake glittered like a
liquid diamond, and the palace was a thousand times more beautiful by day than by night.
His host tried to persuade the warrior to stay a few days, but Hidesato insisted on going
home, saying that he had now finished what he had come to do, and must return. The
Dragon King and his family were all very sorry