A band of brigands gathers near a river and one of them tells his story.
As a child, he saw his father drown and his mother immediately kicked him out with his even younger brother.
Raised by strangers on a farm, they both fall in love with the girl of the house. They inadvertently left the herd they were guarding to crush a young calf. The master of the house puts them both out. Not far from the house the youngest of the brothers kisses the girl but the father arrives and pounces on the young man. His older brother rushes to his rescue and strikes the old man deadly. The two brothers run away and decide to "seek happiness on the highways". They stop and rob travelers, get rich and lead a happy life.
But one day they are arrested and taken to prison. They run away, but the youngest hit by a bullet dies despite his brother's efforts.