nine o'clock
They had nothing to look out for , however , on the out track except an accommodation that had started two hours previous . No. 999 had a light load , and she sped along without a jar . The wires took care of her . By nine o'clock they were twenty miles `` to the good '' on regular schedule basis . After that it was slower progress . The wind had arisen to a hurricane , the rain came down in torrents , and as they passed Winston they began to get in among the hills , where there was a series of intricate and dangerous curves . `` It 's nearly a waterspout , '' observed Fogg , as the rain swept against the cab as if driven from a full pressure hose , and they could feel the staunch locomotive quiver as it breasted great sweeps of the wind .