noon
In order to reach their destination , which was Montgomery , a central southern city , the train made many shifts from one railway line to another . This took time , and necessitated many unpleasant stoppages and waits . It was the second day of the trip when they were side-tracked at a little way station . Here it was given out they would remain from noon until midnight , awaiting a fruit express which would pick them up and deliver them at terminus . Billy Blow , his Boy Midget , and Andy had a compartment in a tourists ' car . When the long stop was announced , Andy was glad to get a chance to stretch his limbs . He interested himself for more than an hour watching the menagerie men attend to the animals .