By this time the smoke was pouring out of the cellar window thicker than ever.
A man put his head out of a door half way up the block. Jack ran to him and pointed back to the smoke.
Just then he remembered the red fire-alarm box on the next corner. In his excitement he did not think about telephoning.
“You get the people up!” cried Jack to the man. “I’ll turn in the alarm!” And he ran as he had never run before.
It seemed miles to the alarm box; but, as a matter of fact, he was not more than two minutes in reaching it.
Jack had never turned in an alarm, but he had often read the directions beside the little square of glass on the red alarm box
To give alarm
break glass
open door
pull hook down once
and let go.
Jack looked about for a stone to break the glass; but there was no loose stone in that smooth-paved street.
Using his elbow for a hammer, as he had often done before, he struck the glass a sharp blow.
Crash went the thin glass to the pavement, and the little handle was in reach. Grasping it firmly, Jack turned it to the right and the red door flew open. Inside he saw a long curved slot and a knob or hook at the top of it, and the directions: