“No,” answered Tom, “but I thought you always carried oil in case of a storm; to pour on the water, you know.” “Oh, we use gasoline for that,” explained Nelson gravely. “Come on and let’s find the other joint.” Their way lay through a number of extremely narrow and very crooked streets—only Dan contemptuously called them alleys—and because of the crowds it was usually necessary to proceed in single file. First there was Nelson as guide; then came Bob; then trotted Barry; at the other end of his leash was Dan; and Tom jogged along in the rear. “Thunder!” exclaimed Bob at last. “The chap who laid out this town must have been crazy! I’ll bet you anything, fellows, this is the same lane we were on five minutes ago. Look here, Nelson, are you plumb certain you’re not lost?” “Yes,” answered the other. “Well, I’m not,” growled Dan. “I’m lost as anything. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. I’d just like to——” But at that moment a dray horse tried to walk up his back, and Dan’s remarks were cut short. When he had reached the other side of the street in safety he half turned his head and addressed himself to Tommy. “Did you see that blamed horse?” he asked indignantly. “He deliberately tried to walk through me. Guess he mistook me for one of those short cuts that Nelson is always talking about. I’ve a good mind to go back and have him arrested.” As there was no reply, Dan turned and looked back. Then: “Whoa! Back up!” he shouted. “We’ve lost Tommy!” Consternation reigned. “When did you see him last?” asked Nelson anxiously. “About five minutes ago, I guess,” said Dan. “It was when we were coming through that three-inch boulevard back there. Poor Tommy!” he said sorrowfully. “We’ll never see him again.” “I guess we’d better go back and look for him,” said Nelson. “Have you any idea you know how we came?” asked Dan incredulously. “If we don’t find him, he’ll make his way home, I guess,” said Bob. “I’ll bet I can tell you what’s happened to him,” said Dan. “What?” “He’s got stuck fast in one of these narrow streets, of course. I only hope they won’t have to tear down a building or two to get him loose.” “Oh, they’ll probably let him stay there until he is starved thin,” laughed Nelson. “That’s so. And build a flight of steps over him. Bet you a dollar, though, that when they do pry him loose, they’ll arrest him for stopping the traffic!” “Well, come on,” said Nelson. “We’ll see if we can find him.” So they turned and retraced their steps, although Dan affirmed positively that they had never come that way. “The sensible thing to have done,” he grumbled, “was to have stayed just where we were and waited for the streets to come around to us. Then, when one went by with Tommy on the sidewalk, we could have just reached out and plucked him off.” But no one heard him save a newsboy, who thought he was asking for an afternoon paper.