` And , overshooting all other marks , the arrow passed far and far beyond sight . At the last it fell ; and , where it touched earth , there broke out a stream which presently became a River , whose nature , by our Lord 's beneficence , and that merit He acquired ere He freed himself , is that whoso bathes in it washes away all taint and speckle of sin . ' ` So it is written , ' said the Curator sadly . The lama drew a long breath . ` Where is that River ? Fountain of Wisdom , where fell the arrow ? ' ` Alas , my brother , I do not know , ' said the Curator . ` Nay , if it please thee to forget -- the one thing only that thou hast not told me . Surely thou must know ? See , I am an old man ! I ask with my head between thy feet , O Fountain of Wisdom . We know He drew the bow ! We know the arrow fell ! We know the stream gushed ! Where , then , is the River ? My dream told me to find it . So I came . I am here . But where is the River ? ' ` If I knew , think you I would not cry it aloud ? '
` By it one attains freedom from the Wheel of Things , ' the XXXXX went on , unheeding .
Curator Lord Nay feet head lama nature speckle stream whoso