noon
When the stream at last leaped forth , making the nozzle fight in his grasp , he sent it straight up into the air and let the cataract fall back upon himself and upon the two men beneath him on the ladder . There came a moment of blessed relief ; and he looked out over the broad rosy blur of faces in the street , where no one wondered more than he how the water was to reach the roof . Suddenly he started , wiped his eyes with his wet sleeve , and peered intently down from under the shading arm . His roving glance crossed the smoke and flame to rest upon a tall , white figure that stood , full-length above the heads of the people , upon a pedestal wrought with the grotesque images of boys : a girl 's figure , still as noon , enrapt , like the statue of some young goddess for whom were made these sacrificial pyres . Mr. Gray recognized his opportunity . A blackened and unrecognizable face peered down from the eaves , and the voice belonging to it said , angrily : `` Why did n't they send up that line before they put the water through it ? '' `` Never mind , Tom , '' answered Crailey cheerfully , `` I 'll bring it up . ''