ng and would not need him, and Pat,
who was beginning to know Saturday afternoon, must wait for his weekly
outing.

He had on his dirty slop that was already very grimy from the week's
wear and toil, and as soon as he had finished his dinner he began a
minute inspection of the beautifully finished monster.

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. Monks' will see _me_ right if I can manage it, and
their draughtsman's waiting. I shan't touch anything else, so nobody
'll be the wiser."

[Illustration: "'I TELL YOU THERE'S NO DANGER AT ALL!'"]

Dick felt the perspiration on his brow as he recognised Whatman's
voice. Then peering out cautiously he saw him walk towards the
manager's office with a tall, well-dressed stranger.

He was not _quite_ sure what tracings might be, but he knew the firm
had plans for new machinery in hand, from which great things were to be
expected, for he had heard the fitters talking about it.

And these men were going to steal them. All sorts of ideas as to how
he could stop them flitted through his eager brain while he noiselessly
slipped off his shoes, and crawled out, inch by inch. If only the
window fastenings would prove refractory and hinder them till