I knew I couldn't go much farther because I wanted to get back to the house-boat by one.
I started down Barrel Alley, watching the mud along the edge of the sidewalk, so I could tell if the fellow left the sidewalk to go into one of the houses.

Barrel Alley is a blind alley-that means it has an end to it and you can't go any further.

It runs plunk into the end of Shad Row.

Norris Row is the right name, but old man Norris is named Shadley Norris, so us fellows call it Shad Row.

You can get through the end of Barrel Alley if you climb over old man Norris back fence, so it isn't exactly a blind alley.