The White Fox
11
sets they are afraid of this place, and no one will approach this cottage then.
- Osayo.—Then, where did they see Kaku-chan?
- Mother.—Look! All of them saw him (pointing toward the upper part of the cliff) when they passed that chestnut-tree on the high-road. They can get a clear view from there of this cottage. Besides, the fox only makes his appearance when it is a moonlight night.
- Osayo.—I wonder if such a thing really does happen?
- Mother.—Oh, of course it happens! You have already been told many times that as soon as the autumn begins, and when the hagi-flowers are in full bloom, the fox is sure to come down to this cottage to take his bath. Look there! At the hour when the moon makes its appearance over the side of Mt. Hanno-ki, and when it becomes as bright as daylight in the valley, and when the moonbeams crawl into the interior of the cottage, the fox always takes a dip in the waters of the bath.
- Osayo.—Who invented such a story?
- Mother.—Who? Why, for many long years people have seen him there. As the bath-water is very clear, the moonbeams creep into it through the door. In the middle of the water, the fox can be seen shaking his pure white fur, and throwing the water over his neck and under his arm-pits with such rapidity that it makes the scene appear as
