about two o'clock
But after a further fall they would soon be obliterated . Fix became discouraged , and felt inclined to give up the whole thing . He had now an opportunity to leave Kearney Station and pursue his way homewards . In fact about two o'clock , in the midst of a snowstorm , long whistles were heard from eastward ; a great shadow was slowly advancing ; no train was expected from that direction . The assistance telegraphed for could not possibly arrive so soon , and the train to San Francisco was not due till the next day . The mystery was soon explained . It was the runaway locomotive that was approaching .