初夏のある日、人力車夫の海蔵と牛ひきの利助は山道を連れだって歩いていた。喉の渇きを覚えた2人は、道を外れた山中にある湧き水へと向かう。

ところが、2人が水を飲んでいる間に、道端の椿の木に繋いであった利助の牛が、椿の葉を食べつくしてしまう。そこへ地主が通りかかり、椿の木を台無しにしたとして利助はさんざん怒られる。

利助と海蔵はしょげ返って、「湧き水がもう少し近くにあればなぁ」と言い合う。

One day in early summer, Kaizo, a rickshaw driver, and Risuke, a cowpoke, are walking together along a mountain road. One day in early summer, Kaizo, a rickshaw driver, and Risuke, a cowpuller, were walking together along a mountain road when they became thirsty and went off the road to a spring in the mountains.

However, while they were drinking the water, Risuke's cow, which was tied to a camellia tree on the side of the road, ate up all the camellia leaves. The landowner walks by, and Risuke gets very angry at him for ruining the camellia tree.

Risuke and Kaizo are devastated and say to each other, "If only there were more spring water nearby.

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