About four o'clock
He must try to hold out for another hour , and he savagely attacked his pile of stones . When the echoes of the whistle filled the hollow he had some trouble in reaching the bunk-house , but felt better after dinner and a smoke , which he enjoyed sitting on a box by the stove ; but the time for rest was short . The foreman drove him out , and feeling very sore and stiff , he resumed work . About four o'clock another pang shot through him and he dropped his shovel and sat down on a heap of ties , hoping to get a few minutes ' rest before the gravel train came up . The pain was troublesome , but not dangerous . It might only bother him for a day or two , but it might last a week . Rest was the best cure , but sick men were not wanted at the camp .