two o'clock in the
morning
He was vaguely conscious of the sombre rumbling of the huge wagon and of the regular clicking of the wheel-hubs , so characteristic of the circus caravan and so dear to the heart of every boy . His bones ached , his stomach was crying out for food , and his body was chilled ; but none of these could withstand the assault of slumber . He would have slept if Blake 's hand had been on his shoulder . Out into the country rolled the big wagon , at two o'clock in the morning , following as closely as possible the flickering rear lantern of the vehicle ahead . The rain had ceased falling , but there was a mist in the air , blown from the trees that lined the road . Those of the circus men who were compelled to ride outside the wagons were clothed in their rubber coats ; their more fortunate companions slept under cover on the pole wagons , on top of the seat wagons , or in stretchers swung beneath the property wagons or cages . Others , still more fortunate , slept in property or trunk vans , or in the band chariots .