While eating lunch in a cafe, the treasure hunters pull out the poem book and the map of Manhattan to parse the final clue. Eloise and the poem work together to tell the children the story of Ota Benga, a Pygmy from Africa who was bought by a businessman and brought to New York. He was kept in a zoo and only released when public outrage became too much. They realize that the poems reflect life lessons Mr. Post hoped his children would learn to live better lives. A waitress tells them the cafe is closing early because the snowstorm is getting worse. They wait for a bus and then take the subway when they see cars struggling through the poor road conditions.

They get on a subway train and realize they’re going in the wrong direction; they attempt to switch trains but cannot disembark in time. They plan to get off at the next station, but the train stops between stations and goes dark. Eloise suggests they wait and nap; while Eloise sleeps, CJ and Patrick wander and investigate.