Soonitbegantodrizzle；thenthedropscamefaster，andtherewasaregulardown-pour。Whenitwasover，twolittlestreetboyscamealong。
’Justlook！’criedone。’HereisaTin-soldier！Heshallsailupanddowninaboat！’
Sotheymadealittleboatoutofnewspaper，puttheTin-soldierinit，andmadehimsailupanddownthegutter；boththeboysranalongbesidehim，clappingtheirhands。Whatgreatwavestherewereinthegutter，andwhataswiftcurrent！Thepaper-boattossedupanddown，andinthemiddleofthestreamitwentsoquickthattheTin-soldiertrembled；butheremainedsteadfast，showednoemotion，lookedstraightinfrontofhim，shoulderinghisgun。Allatoncetheboatpassedunderalongtunnelthatwasasdarkashisboxhadbeen。
’WherecanIbecomingnow？’hewondered。’Oh，dear！Thisistheblackimp’sfault！Ah，ifonlythelittleladyweresittingbesidemeintheboat，itmightbetwiceasdarkforallIshouldcare！’
Suddenlytherecamealongagreatwater-ratthatlivedinthetunnel。