Every little cog and wheel was worth looking at, and the smallest nut
and screw more interesting to him than all the football in Ironboro'.
Mr. Dainton had given him leave to stay, and Joe, the watchman, would
let him out when he was ready.
He had watched the fitters at their work and thought wistfully of the
years that must go by before he would be as clever as they. But every
hour of learning would help and he would find out some things now.
So he got down and crawled under the boiler and inspected everything
there, trying to understand the massive architecture of the iron steed.
Perhaps the faint warmth lulled him unconsciously, but in a place where
most boys would have felt very uncomfortable, he presently went fast
asleep. How long he had been there could not be told, but suddenly a
sound of voices close by roused him completely.
"I tell you, man, there's no danger at all! That bottle of whisky will
make old Joe sleep till midnight, and the little gate's ajar, and
everybody off to the match. Just help me up and I'll spring back the
fastening and get in through the side window. I've got keys, and with
luck I can get the tracings and have them all copied out before dark.
And there's a sovereign for your trouble as soon as I've put them back
again to-night.
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