"Well, I never squeal, an' only put the question to try you out.

Go on, an' tell me what it is an' where it is; whether I go into the job or not, at least you've nothin' to be leary of in me." Storri, who had been studying London Bill as hard as ever that cracksman was studying him, re-began in earnest.

He now laid bare the proposal in its every corner, and showed London Bill the plans and maps, including the valuable cross-section drawing that displayed the relation of the Treasury Building to street levels.

London Bill, who appeared to have gifts as an engineer, bent over the maps and drawings, considering and measuring distances.
"What sort of ground is this ?" said London Bill, laying a finger on the cross-section drawing, where it was painted dove-color as showing the earth beneath the street; "is it clay or sand ?" "Gray clay," returned Storri, "and fairly hard and dry." "Good," remarked London Bill; "no fear of caving." Recurring to the drawings, London Bill proceeded: "It'll take two months to dig that tunnel.

I'll have to dip as I go in, in order to creep beneath the footstones of the sidewall; then I'll bring the tunnel up on a long slant.