"Stand out of my way," shouted the man savagely, "or I will bring my whip down on your head!" and he brandished a heavy whip dangerously near the boy. Aleko jumped aside only just in time, and the cart went rattling down the steep incline with a clatter of its iron laths which drowned the barking of its occupants. Instinctively Aleko ran back to the square. Anneza was gone. "Do you know," he asked of a woman who was weighing some purple figs at the door of a fruit shop, "where the serving maid has gone who was here just now?" "Anneza, from the Spinotti's, you mean?" answered the woman. "The 'boya' took her dog away in his cart, and she has run back to the house to tell her master." "By the time she finds him," said Aleko, "it will be too late." And he tore across the square and down the street leading to Academy Road. A street car was passing. He leaped on the platform dragging his box after him. The conductor looked at him angrily. "Do you not know that you cannot sell your newspapers while the car is in motion?" "I am not selling anything," answered Aleko with dignity; "I am riding." And he produced ten lepta from a pocket inside his tunic. He got off the street car at Patissia Road and turned to his right. When he came to a large house, standing somewhat back from the road, he stopped short. An older boy, also with a shoeblack's box beside him, was leaning against the railings of the enclosure. "Is this the Central Police Station?" inquired Aleko. "Yes." "Does the Chief of the Police live here?" The older boy stared at him. "He does not live here, he has a fine house of his own near the Palace, but he comes here every day. I know, because this is my stand, and I see him when he comes and goes." Then Aleko asked another question. "Does the 'boya' bring the dogs he catches here?" "He brings them here first, to be counted, and then he takes them down there." And the strange shoeblack jerked with his thumb over his shoulder towards the Homonoia[15] Square. "Down where?" "Far down the Piræus Road." "What does he do with them there?" "Puts them into a room which kills them." "How can it kill them--a room?" "Do I know?" "When does the cart come here?" The elder boy looked up at the sun. "Now, any minute." "Listen," said Aleko, "the 'boya' has taken just now up at the Kolonaki a dog that is not a stray one. It is a very good dog, and it belongs to someone who counts for something. If I wait here, and show the Chief of the Police which it is, will he give it to me?" "Are you mad?" asked the strange boy contemptuously. "Do you think the Chief himself sees the dogs, or that he will listen to you?" "Then what shall I do?" "If you want the dog, go down to the place in the Piræus Road, and find the 'boya' alone. Now, these hot days, they are afraid of mad dogs, and they pay him one drachma for every dog he catches: so, perhaps, if you were to give him more...." "Where is the place?"