"This thing is going to fall under us if we don't do something," muttered Ward.
"Duane's forgotten us, and those crazy idiots at the engines are too busy trying to keep from being washed," surmised Keith.
"Look here," said Munro suddenly; "I'll brace against a chimney and hang on to the hose, and you can slide down it like a rope."
"How about you?" demanded Ward crisply.
"You can run for more ladders, once you're on the ground."
At this moment the water failed in Keith's hose. He stared at the nozzle, then rapidly began to unscrew it.
"Cistern empty or hose burst," surmised Munro.
But Talbot Ward, cocking his ear toward a distant pandemonium of cheering, guessed the true cause.
"Sucked," said he. By this he meant that the Monumental crew had succeeded in emptying their water box in spite of the Eureka's best efforts.
"Get off your nozzle quick!" urged Keith.