"Well, what is it?"
"The cage-tender says the machinery has broken down."
"Did he say what the trouble is?"
"He said the engineer had sent word that the big cog wheel had stripped itself. They can't move the cage, and probably will not be able to do so for some hours. They are taking the old wheel off now, preparatory to putting on the spare wheel."
Mr. Penton clenched his hands to keep from expressing himself as he would like to do.
"We must get this boy somewhere where we can warm him up, or he will die on our hands. The only place I know of is the pump station and——"
"Then we will carry Steve up the ladders," interrupted Bob.
"But, boy, it is nearly a thousand feet from here to the pump station. We can't get him up there by hand."
"I'll show you whether we can or not. One of you go ahead and light the way. Help me through the manholes at the platforms and we'll get him up there in short order. Mr. Penton, will you have somebody follow close behind me to help a little?"