Unaccustomed as he was to the smoky fumes, half suffocated, eyes smarting, Johnny found himself all but overcome; yet he fought his way forward.
When the line of firemen halted he battled his way to the side of the foremost man. To go farther would be foolhardy. He could but pause here to study with burning eyes the location of the fire, to imprint upon the cells of his brain a mental sketch of the building, then to back slowly away.
As he staggered blindly into the outer air he all but fell over a boy who, as boys will, had escaped the guard and was at the very door.
“See here,” said Johnny, collaring him.
“You leave me be,” said the boy, struggling to free himself.
“Tell me,” said Johnny, tightening his grip, “how did the fire start?”
“How’d I know?” Another yank.
“Where did it start?” A tighter grip.
“You could see if you had eyes.”
“Where?” with a shake.