noon
Well , the Subway again . Only this time , the East Side branch to Brooklyn Bridge . '' Once more stemming the torrent of human traffic flowing along Forty-second street , the boys made their way eastward to the Grand Central station , boarded a southbound express train on the Subway tracks , and were whisked to their destination at lightning-like speed . Park Row also was crowded , the noon hour crowds of workers , from the towering skyscrapers of the financial district to the south , loitering in City Hall Park and sauntering up and down the thoroughfare to which the park gives its name . Jack and Bob felt their spirits react to the impulse of the busy life around them , but the sensitive Frank , who hated crowds , became peevish . He urged his companions to hurry . `` Forget the sight-seeing , '' he said , `` and let 's move along .