noon
After that the three hastened in a cab to the station , stopping on the way to buy half a case each of grapefruit and oranges . Aboard the train Blake was at once set to eating grapefruit and chewing the bitter pith to allay the burning of his terrible thirst . Throughout the trip , which lasted until mid-afternoon , one or the other of the two friends was ever at his side , ready to urge more of the acid fruit upon him and continually seeking to divert and entertain him by cheerful talk . Until after the noon hour they were on the main line and had the benefit of the dining-car . Griffith ordered a hearty meal , more dinner than luncheon , and Blake was able to eat the greater part of a spring chicken . The most trying and critical time during the trip was the short wait at the junction , where they transferred to the old daycoach that was attached to the train of structural steel for the Michamac Bridge . Blake caught sight of a saloon , and the associations roused by it quickened his craving to an almost irresistible fury .