"Lad, it would be suicide. You would drown, even if you were not too chilled to swim after you got into the water. You----" "I'd like to see any water that could drown me," answered Bob. "We must have help, and at once. Jim, run up to the next level and telephone for help. Have them send down several men. Be quick about it." "Ask them to bring ropes," interjected Bob. "Yes, have them bring down ropes," repeated the superintendent. Bob began ripping up the planking on the platform. His active mind had thought out a plan and he did not wait for permission to put it into operation. "What are you doing there, lad?" "I am making a raft. We have got to have something which will float on the water. We can fasten it together when the men get here with ropes. I'll be ready before they can get here." Jarvis was working with desperate haste. Perhaps his companion was not yet dead. At least Bob would know that he had done his best. "Hark!" "What is it?" whispered Bob. "I thought I heard someone call. I am sure I did. Rush! Oh, Steve!" A faint "here," that sounded far away reached their ears. "He's alive! I tell you, he's alive!" cried Bob Jarvis. Grabbing the end of one of the planks that he had torn loose, Bob began dragging it toward the edge of the platform. "What are you going to do, lad?" "Do? Why, sir, I'm going after him." "Wait; let the men do that. I cannot have you going in there," objected Mr. Penton. But Bob did not stop. He hauled the plank over, and, snatching the rope, made one end of the latter fast about the plank. He then began letting the plank over the side, end first. It nearly got away from him, the rope burning the skin from his palms as it spun through his hands. "Let me help you." Mr. Penton sprang forward, throwing himself on the fast running rope. "The plank is on the water. It can't get away from us now," said Bob, beginning to strip off his jacket, first having stuck his candlestick in a niche in the rocks. "You are not going over!" "Yes, sir, I am going over. We haven't a minute to lose." "I advise you not to do so." The superintendent was far from being a timid man, but he knew the danger; he felt that his responsibility was too great to permit the boy to enter that black hole. "You hold the rope. Nothing can happen to me. I am not afraid of ice water, nor any other kind. Maybe I shall be able to find him by the time the men get here. We shall gain some precious minutes in that way." Next the boy's heavy boots came off, leaving him in his stocking feet. He passed the end of the rope to the superintendent. "Will you please hold your candle over the edge, so I can see where the plank is, sir?" Mr. Penton did so. "Be careful, Jarvis; do be careful," he urged. "I ought not to let you do this. If anything happens to you I shall feel that I am directly responsible." "Do not fear; nothing will happen to me."