one o'clock
BOOK 1 Just after passing Caraher 's saloon , on the County Road that ran south from Bonneville , and that divided the Broderson ranch from that of Los Muertos , Presley was suddenly aware of the faint and prolonged blowing of a steam whistle that he knew must come from the railroad shops near the depot at Bonneville . In starting out from the ranch house that morning , he had forgotten his watch , and was now perplexed to know whether the whistle was blowing for twelve or for one o'clock . He hoped the former . Early that morning he had decided to make a long excursion through the neighbouring country , partly on foot and partly on his bicycle , and now noon was come already , and as yet he had hardly started . As he was leaving the house after breakfast , Mrs. Derrick had asked him to go for the mail at Bonneville , and he had not been able to refuse .