Then once more he caught up the severed end of the main-line wire, and touched the opposite side of the instrument.
A cry of triumph, then a mighty shout, greeted the responding click.
“But what about a key, son?” said Mr. Orr.
“This, for the moment,” replied Jack, and simply resting his elbow on his knee, and tapping with the end of the wire against the brass binding-post, he began urgently calling.
“HN, HN, HN!” he clicked. “HN, HN, HV! Rush! Qk! HN, HN!”
“Perhaps the wire is grounded between here and Hammerton,” suggested his father breathlessly.
“Anybody answer! Qk!” sent Jack. “Does anybody hear this?”
“What’s the matter? This is Z.”
The mayor stepped forward. “Send them the message,” he directed, “and have them ’phone it to Hammerton.”