. That must have been what caused the wave
that chased us down that alley. See!--they're bringing them out!"

Three times the stretcher moved back and forth across Washington
Street. At last the ambulance drove away.

"All it could carry," commented Smith, grimly.

It was now evident that the department was being forced out of School
Street. The wall which had fallen had entirely blocked the narrow
passage, and the heat from the blazing ruin was so intense that no man
could even obliquely face it. It was also clear that a hard struggle
would be necessary to prevent the fire from leaping eastward across
Washington Street.

Northward along the street from behind them, clanging its gong with
insistence, came now a chief's wagon, its black horses plunging
forward, open of nostril, reckless of all. Standing erect in his
place, this man took an instant survey of the situation, and then began
shouting orders to his subordinates in a way that seemed somehow to
make itself felt above the uproar.

"He must have come around from the other side," said Smith. "Now he's
taking charge in front."

However so, the effect of his instructions could be noted almost at
once. Several of the engines withdrew into Milk Street; others moved
northward along Washington; still others southward, but all away from
the now threatened point, which was the southwest corner of Washington
and School Streets. It was plain that all efforts were to be directed
toward preventing the fire from jumping east of this, and it was with
this purpose that the street was being cleared--the decks cleared for
action. And well might they be, for on the eastern corners, directly
across from this point of highest hazard, were two buildings, each an
object of peculiar interest and even reverence to Bostonians. One of
these was the Old South Church; the other the home of the Boston
_Transcript_--palladia both.

"Clear the street--get those people out of the way," came the abrupt
order, and Smith and Helen found themselves hastily retreating toward
Tremont Street, where for a few moments at least they might hope to be
undisturbed.

Not so. Tremont Street was now all that Washington had been a few
minutes before; and with a tremendous crowd of onlookers the two found
themselves steadily forced back and out into the Common. In the space
before Tremont Temple the fire fighters seemed thick as bees, and from
their manner Smith knew that they were dealing w