dangerous as was his situation now, the prince was not in the least confounded. in his dire extremity he remembered the gifts his aunt had given him when they parted, and it seemed to him as if she must, with prophetic foresight, have divined this hour of need. he coolly opened the flint-bag that his aunt had given him and set fire to the grass near him. then drawing the sword of murakumo from its sheath he set to work to cut down the grass on either side of him with all speed. he determined to die, if that were necessary, fighting for his life and not standing still waiting for death to come to him.