Chapters 45-47 Summary

Hervé Joncour follows the Japanese boy for five days. Joncour and his guide do not speak to each other, although the boy merrily plays on a musical pipe. On the fifth day, they reach the top of a hill and see a giant procession of Hara Kei, his villagers, and their livestock. With the procession is a litter with all four sides covered in drapes.

The boy leaves Joncour to follow the caravan of villagers. When it stops to make camp, Joncour tries to come closer and is met by three armed men, who commandeer his horse and baggage and take him to Hara Kei's tent. Hara Kei asks how he came to find them but Joncour does not answer. Hara Kei tells him to leave the Japanese to fight their wars. Joncour empties a purse of gold onto the ground...