one o'clock
`` The railroad takes a bend , an ' Harpswell ai n't more than a mile or two further from the Shoe-Bar than Paloma . '' Evidently Dr. Blanchard must have been at home , for Buck had just finished unsaddling and was coming away from the corral when he rode up . Stratton took his horse and answered his brief questions as to the accident , and then walked down to the bunk-house with his blankets , tarp , and other belongings . The place was empty , for it was after one o'clock and evidently the men had gone off somewhere directly after dinner . Indeed , Buck learned as much from Pedro when he went back to forage for something to eat . `` They go to move herd some place , '' shrugged the Mexican . `` W'ere , I don ' know . ''