Lehi's dream covers the whole range of this earth life, from the cautious to the righteous to the unrighteous. This segment of the vision discusses the unrighteous, who are following the wrong paths, to the wrong place. Interestingly, they drown in the depths of the fountain. This is the first indication that the water in this vision has a malefic aspect. This theme is picked up and expanded in Nephi's version. It is interesting because it is contrary to the expectation Lehi and Nephi would have had concerning water associated with the Tree of Life. The water is usually one of the beneficial aspects of the tree, and in some myths the benefit of life is achieved by drinking the water. Clearly the water at this point does not save. It may be that water serves as a metaphor for a place without a path, as in the water even directions can be difficult to ascertain.