two o'clock
In view of the fact that every item of personal property in possession of the recruits had been destroyed , together with every crumb of their rations , nobody questioned that the company would only be too glad to do that much for the men so nearly burned alive in their travelling holocaust . Not a doubt was entertained among either passengers or trainmen as to the origin of the fire . It had started underneath , and the dry woodwork burned like tinder , and what was there to cause it but those blazing boxes on the forward truck ? The conductor knew there had been no smoking aboard the car , and that every man was asleep when he went through at two o'clock . The brakeman had prophesied disaster and danger . It was God 's mercy that warned the poor fellows in time . Not until along in the afternoon , as they were spinning swiftly down through the marvellous scenery about Blue Cañon and Cape Horn , did Miss Ray again appear .