He seemed to forget all about Hal, and making a rush for the door, disappeared down the street.
The youth started after him. He had eaten and paid for his meal, and he did not wish to miss the opportunity of questioning the fellow further.
On the street all was commotion. Wagons were scattering right and left to make way for the steam engines, hose carts and hook and ladder trucks which came dashing up to the spot.
Hal soon found himself surrounded by a crowd. The man had disappeared, apparently for good, and with a sigh the youth walked away, there being no signs of a fire, so far as he could see.
The youth started to cross the street. He was directly behind an elderly gentleman, and was about to pass the man when there came a warning cry:
"Get out of the way there! Here comes another engine!"
Hal looked up and saw that the engine, pulled by three fiery horses, was close at hand. He started to return to the curb. As he did so the elderly gentleman slipped and went down flat on his back.
"He'll be killed!" cried half a dozen, who saw the accident.
Hal's heart seemed to leap into his throat. The horses were not over ten feet away. A moment more and the elderly gentleman would be crushed to death.
The youth leaped forward, and caught the man by the arm. Then he gave a sudden jerk backward, and both he and the gentleman went rolling into the gutter, while the engine went thundering by.