midnight
They all descended and began a promenade of the plank walk . Pickering saw me an instant later and came up hurriedly , with outstretched hand . `` This is indeed good fortune ! We dropped off here last night rather unexpectedly to rest a hot-box and should have been picked up by the midnight express for Chicago ; but there was a miscarriage of orders somewhere and we now have to wait for the nine o'clock , and it 's late . If I 'd known how much behind it was I should have run out to see you . How are things going ? '' `` As smooth as a whistle !