,
and took their places, and presently Jack also was ousted.

At once he set off for a closer view of the fire. Half way he was halted
by a call.

"Hi, Jack! Come and help push the freight cars!"

The shout came from a group of boys running for the rear of the burning
freight-shed, and responding with alacrity, Jack joined them, and soon,
just beyond the burning building, was pushing against the corner of a
slowly moving box-car with all his might.

One car was rolled safely out of the danger zone, and Jack's party
hastened back for another. The innermost of the remaining cars, and on a
separate siding, was but a short distance from the flaming shed, and
already was blazing on the roof. Jack and several other adventurous
spirits determined to tackle this one on their own account. After much
straining they got it in motion.

Suddenly a wildly excited figure appeared rushing through the smoke, and
shouted at the top of his voice, "Get back! Get back! There's blasting
powder in that car!"

In a twinkle there was a wild stampede. And but just in time. With a
blinding flash and a roar like a thunderbolt, the car shot into the air
in a million pieces. Many persons in the vicinity were thrown violently
to the ground, including Jack. As he scrambled, thoroughly frightened, to
his feet, someone shouted, "Look out overhead!" and glancing up, Jack saw
a shower of burning fragments high in the air.

Then rose the cry, "The wind is taking them right over the town!" In
alarm many people began leaving the square for their homes.

Jack's own home and the drug-store block were well on the other side of
the town, however, and with no thought of anxiety Jack remained to watch
the burning station, now a solid mass of flame from ground to roof.

Presently, glancing toward the opposite corner of the square, Jack noted
a general, hurried movement of the crowd there into the street. He set
out to investigate. As he neared the fire-engine, still clanking
vigorously, a bareheaded man rushed up and asked excitedly for the fire
chief. "The telephone building and a house on Essex Street, and one on
the next street back, are burning!" he cried. "Quick, and do something,
or the whole town will be afire!"

Looking in the direction indicated, Jack saw a wavering glare, and with a
new thrill of excitement was immediately off on the run. The telephone
exchange was one of the largest buildings in town.

As he came within sight of the new conf