"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."
Bob peered down into the dark waters, where, after a moment, he made out the plank floating slowly toward the spot where the pipes disappeared beneath the surface.
"Now, please hold the light up high, so that I can see what I am doing."