"They charge pretty stiff prices on a boat," he thought, after paying over his money. "I've got to live cheaper after this, or I'll be a beggar before I settle down and find something to do." It was dark when Buffalo was reached, and here Nat was more bewildered than he had been on arriving at Cleveland. He followed the crowd up from the dock to one of the main streets, and then stood on a corner, not knowing which way to turn, or what to do next. "What a terrible lot of people and cars!" was his mental comment. "It's enough to make a fellow's head swim." He felt that it would be useless to try to do anything that night, and so looked around for a cheap lodging house. Soon he found a place where beds could be had for twenty-five cents a night, and he entered. "I'll take a bed," he said to the clerk at the desk. "All right; twenty-five cents." And as the money was passed over, the clerk continued: "Leave your valuables at the desk." "Valuables?" repeated Nat. "You mean my watch?" "You may leave it if you wish, and your money too." "No; I'll keep them on me," answered the boy. He was conducted to an elevator, and soon found himself on the fifth story of the building. Here was a big room containing twenty cots, ten on each side. "Here you are; No. 134," said the attendant, and left him. On several of the cots some men were already sleeping. They were not pleasant-appearing individuals, and a few of them smelt strongly of liquor. "This isn't so nice," thought Nat. "But it's cheap, and that's something." Before retiring, he placed his bundle and his clothing under his pillow, and stowed away his watch and money on his person. Nat's actions were closely watched by a man who occupied the next cot on the left. He was a seedy individual, with a face that was horribly pockmarked. "Reckon he's got a dollar or two," thought this man, who was known among his associates by the name of Checkers. Despite his surroundings, Nat slept soundly throughout the night, and continued to sleep long after the sun came up. While it was still early, Bob Checkers arose, dressed himself, and slipped over to the sleeping boy's side. Making certain that nobody was watching him, the fellow began a rapid search of Nat's clothing, and afterwards of the lad's person. Soon he came in contact with a small roll of bills, which Nat, in the belief that they would be quite secure, had placed in a pocket of his shirt. A thrill of delight shot through the fellow as his hand touched them. "Dis is de best yet!" he murmured to himself, and placing the bills in his own pocket, he left the lodging house almost on a run. CHAPTER VII AN ADVENTURE AT NIAGARA FALLS When Nat awoke it was so late that he leaped up and dressed with all possible speed. "I've got to get a hustle on me, if I mean to do anything," he told himself. "It won't do to dream away one day after another."