Here, in crossing a street, his foot struck against some obstruction which the snow had concealed, and he fell with his face downward.

It took some time for him to struggle to his feet again, and then he seemed to be in a state of complete bewilderment, for he started along one street, going for a short distance, and then crossing back and going in an opposite direction.

He was in no condition to get right after once going wrong.
With every few steps he would stop and look up and down the street and at the houses on each side vainly trying to make out his locality.
"Police!" he cried two or three times; but the faint, alarmed call reached no ear of nightly guardian.

Then, with a shiver as the storm swept down upon him more angrily, he started forward again, going he knew not whither.
The cold benumbed him; the snow choked and blinded him; fear and anxiety, so far as he was capable of feeling them, bewildered and oppressed him.

A helmless ship in storm and darkness was in no more pitiable condition than this poor lad.
On, on he went, falling sometimes, but struggling to his feet again and blindly moving forward.