two o'clock in the afternoon
Fix became discouraged . He felt a sort of insurmountable longing to abandon the game altogether . He could now leave Fort Kearney station , and pursue his journey homeward in peace . Towards two o'clock in the afternoon , while it was snowing hard , long whistles were heard approaching from the east . A great shadow , preceded by a wild light , slowly advanced , appearing still larger through the mist , which gave it a fantastic aspect . No train was expected from the east , neither had there been time for the succour asked for by telegraph to arrive ; the train from Omaha to San Francisco was not due till the next day . The mystery was soon explained .