This, at his mother's request and tearful entreaties, he painted out again, and substituted "Rowbotham." Nor was Rowbotham a mere nom de plume.

It was the real name of Silly Billy.

The boy had some turn for carving, but was quite uncultivated: Henry took him into his employ, fed him, and made free with his name.
With all this he found time to get a key made to fit the lock of Cairnhope old Church.
At one o'clock on Thursday morning he came to Cheetham's works, and scratched at the gate.

A big workman opened it.

It turned out to be Cheetham himself, in a moleskin suit, and a long beard.
The forge on wheels was all ready, also a cart containing anvil, bellows, hammers, pincers, leathern buckets, and a quantity of steel laths.