Next day the young man went early to his work. As he climbed the mountain he saw, to his surprise, a troop of woodcutters following him, and each carried a gourd. Some one had overheard him tell his father of the waterfall which flowed saké, and all the woodcutters of the village wished to taste of the wonderful drink.
When they drank, however, they were filled with rage, for to them the waterfall flowed only water. Then they reviled the youth and cried,
“Base one, you have beguiled us here on false pretenses! You have spoken falsely! We have toiled here for nothing! You are an evil fellow!”
“THE WOODCUTTER STOOPED TO DRINK OF IT”
But he replied calmly, “I did not ask you to come. For me the waterfall flows saké still, as sweet as yester-eve.”
They went away in great anger, and as they went the waterfall almost seemed to laugh, so gayly did it tinkle over the stones. When the woodcutter drank, however, the laughter turned to music and a sweet voice crooned a gentle song,
“Saké for him who is kind,
Water for those who seek self,
Saké for him who is kind!”