Part 3 (1/2)

His hands trembled. In his nervous excitement the papers fell, scattering broadcast over the floor.

Tatsu's dark face flashed into light. ”My pictures! My pictures!” he cried aloud, like a child. ”They always blow off down the mountain!”

Kano picked up a study at random. It was of a mountain tarn lying quiet in the sun. Trees in a windless silence sprang straight upward from the brink. Beyond and above these a few tall peaks stood thin and pale, cutting a sky that was empty of all but light.

”Where is the dragon here?” challenged the old man.

”Asleep under the lake.”

”And where here?” he asked quickly, in order to hide his discomfiture.

The second picture was a scene of heavy rain descending upon a village.

”Oh, I perceive for myself,” he hurried on before Tatsu could reply.

”The dragon lies full length, half sleeping, on the soaking cloud.”

Tatsu's lip curled, but he remained silent.

The old man's hands rattled among the edges of the papers. ”Ah, here, Master Painter, are you overthrown!” he cried triumphantly, lifting the painting of a tall girl who swayed against a cloudy background. The lines of the thin gray robe blew lightly to one side. The whole figure had the poise and lightness of a vision; yet in the face an exquisite human tenderness smiled out. ”Show me a dragon here,” repeated Kano.

Tatsu looked troubled and, for the first time, studied intently the countenance of his host. ”Surely, honored sir, if you are a painter, as you say you are, its meaning must be plain. Look more closely. Do you not see on what the maiden stands?”

”Of course I see,” snapped Kano. ”She stands among rocks and weeds, and looks marvellously like----” He broke off, thinking it better not to mention his daughter's name. ”But I repeat, no dragon-thought is here.”

Tatsu reached out, took the picture, and tore it into shreds. Then he rose to his feet. ”Good-by,” he said. ”I shall now make a quick returning. You are of the blind among men. My painting was the Dragon Maid, standing on the peaks of earth. All my life I have sought her.

The people of my village think me mad because of her. By reason that I cannot find, I paint. Good-by!”

”Good-by!” echoed the other. ”What do you mean? What are you saying?”

The face of a horrible possibility jeered at him. His heart pounded the lean ribs and stood still. Tatsu was upon his feet. In an instant more he would be gone forever.

”Tatsu, wait!” almost screamed the old man. ”Surely you cannot mean to return when you have but now arrived! Be seated. I insist! There is much to talk about.”

”I have nothing to talk about. When a thing is to be done, then it is best to do it quickly. Good-by!” He wheeled toward the deepening night, the torn and soiled blue robe clinging to him as to the figure of a primeval G.o.d.

”Tatsu! Tatsu!” cried the other in an agony of fear. ”Stop! I command!”

Tatsu turned, scowling. Then he laughed.

”No, no, I did not mean the word 'command.' I entreat you, Tatsu, because you are young and I am old; because I need you. Dear youth, you must be hungered and very weary. Remain at least until our meal is served.”

”I desire no food of yours,” said Tatsu. ”Why did you summon me when you had nothing to reveal? You are no artist! And I pine, already, for the mountains!”

”Then, Tatsu, if I am no artist, stay and teach me how to paint. Yes, yes, you shall honorably teach me. I shall receive reproof thankfully.

I need you, Tatsu. I have no son. Stay and be my son.”

The short, scornful laugh came again. ”Your son! What could you do with a son like me? You love to dwell in square cages, and wear smooth s.h.i.+ny clothes. You eat tasteless foods and sleep like a coc.o.o.n that is rolled. My life is upon the mountains; my food the wild grapes and the berries that grow upon them. The pheasants and the mountain lions are my friends. I stifle in these lowlands. I cannot stay. I must breathe the mountains, and there among the peaks some day--some day--I shall touch her sleeve, the sleeve of the Dragon Maiden whom I seek.

Let me go, old man! I have no business in this place!”

In extremes of desperation one clutches at the semblance of a straw. A last, wild hope had flashed to Kano's mind. ”Come nearer, Tatsu San,”