下载辰思小说免费APP
andoncefromtheNorth，wherehehaddoubledbackeighthundredmilestotalkforadaywiththeKeeperoftheImagesintheWonderHouse。Hewouldstridetohiscellinthecool，cutmarble-thepriestsoftheTempleweregoodtotheoldman，-washoffthedustoftravel，makeprayer，anddepartforLucknow，wellaccustomednowtothewayoftherail，inathird-classcarriage。Returning，itwasnoticeable，ashisfriendtheSeekerpointedouttothehead-priest，thatheceasedforawhiletomournthelossofhisRiver，ortodrawwondrouspicturesoftheWheelofLife，butpreferredtotalkofthebeautyandwisdomofacertainmysteriouschelawhomnomanoftheTemplehadeverseen。Yes，hehadfollowedthetracesoftheBlessedFeetthroughoutallIndia。(TheCuratorhasstillinhispossessionamostmarvellousaccountofhiswanderingsandmeditations。)ThereremainednothingmoreinlifebuttofindtheRiveroftheArrow。Yetitwasshowntohimindreamsthatitwasamatternottobeundertakenwithanyhopeofsuccessunlessthatseekerhadwithhimtheonechelaappointedtobringtheeventtoahappyissue，andversedingreatwisdom-suchwisdomaswhite-hairedKeepersofImagespossess。Forexample(herecameoutthesnuff-gourd，andthekindlyJainpriestsmadehastetobesilent)：
`Longandlongago，whenDevadattawasKingofBenaresletalllistentotheJî；taka！-anelephantwascapturedforatimebytheking’shuntersand，erehebrokefree，beringedwithagrievousleg-iron。
Thishestrovetoremovewithhateandfrenzyinhisheart，andhurryingupanddowntheforests，besoughthisbrother-elephantstowrenchitasunder。
Onebyone，withtheirstrongtrunks，theytriedandfailed。Atthelasttheygaveitastheiropinionthattheringwasnottobebrokenbyanybestialpower。Andinathicket，new-born，wetwithmoistureofbirth，layaday-oldcalfoftheherdwhosemotherhaddied。Thefetteredelephant，forgettinghisownagony，said：`IfIdonothelpthissucklingitwillperishunderourfeet。’Sohestoodabovetheyoungthing，makinghislegsbuttressesagainsttheuneasilymovingherd；andhebeggedmilkofavirtuouscow，andthecalfthrove，andtheringedelephantwasthecalf’sguideanddefence。Nowthedaysofan：elephant-letalllistentotheJî；taka！-
arethirty-fiveyearstohisfullstrength，andthroughthirty-fiveRainstheringedelephantbefriendedtheyounger，andallthewhilethefetterateintotheflesh。
`Thenonedaytheyoungelephantsawthehalf-buriediron，andturningtotheeldersaid：`Whatisthis？’`Itisevenmysorrow，’saidhewhohadbefriendedhim。Thenthatotherputouthistrunkandinthetwinklingofaneyelashabolishedthering，saying：`Theappointedtimehascome。’
Sothevirtuouselephantwhohadwaitedtemperatelyanddonekindactswasrelieved，attheappointedtime，bytheverycalfwhomhehadturnedasidetocherish-letalllistentotheJî；taka！-fortheElephantwasAnanda，andtheCalfthatbroketheringwasnoneotherthanTheLordHimself……’
Thenhewouldshakehisheadbenignly，andovertheever-clickingrosarypointouthowfreethatelephant-calfwasfromthesinofpride。Hewasashumbleasachelawho，seeinghismastersittinginthedustoutsidetheGatesofLearning，overleaptthegates(thoughtheywerelocked)
andtookhismastertohisheartinthepresenceoftheproud-stomachedcity。Richwouldbetherewardofsuchamasterandsuchachelawhenthetimecameforthemtoseekfreedomtogether！
Sodidthelamaspeak，comingandgoingacrossIndiaassoftlyasabat。Asharp-tonguedoldwomaninahouseamongthefruit-treesbehindSaharunporehonouredhimasthewomanhonouredtheprophet，buthischamberwasbynomeansuponthewall。Inanapartmentoftheforecourtoverlookedbycooingdoveshewouldsit，whileshelaidasideheruselessveilandchatteredofspiritsandfiendsofKulu，ofgrandchildrenunborn，andofthefree-tonguedbratwhohadtalkedtoherintheresting-place。Once，too，hestrayedalonefromtheGrandTrunkRoadbelo
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