twelve o'clock before
`` Ay , but whar 's the bandits ? '' The Inventor had been obliged to run the Terror to the headwaters of the creek ere they were able to pass the stream . Considerable time had thus been lost . Indeed , it was twelve o'clock before they reached the railroad track at a point between Polo and Cowgill . `` The question is , has the train passed ? '' said Jack . `` Ve ditn 'd seen nodding ohf her yet , '' replied Fritz .