about
noon
After which undeniable apothegm the conversation came to a stand . Meanwhile , Old Hurricane pursued his journey -- a lumbering , old-fashioned stage-coach ride -- across the mountains , creeping at a snail 's crawl up one side of the precipice and clattering thunderously down the other at a headlong speed that pitched the back-seat passengers into the bosoms of the front ones and threatened even to cast the coach over the heads of the horses . Three days and nights of such rugged riding brought the traveler to Washington City , where he rested one night and then took the cars for New York . He rested another night in Philadelphia , resumed his journey by the first train in the morning and reached New York about noon . The crowd , the noise , the hurry and confusion at the wharf almost drove this irascible old gentleman mad . `` No , confound you ! '' `` I 'll see your neck stretched first , you villain ! ''