about midnight
Well , I thought at first Wyoming Ed was on to the scheme , because when we were waiting in the cut to signal the train he talked about us going on with her to San Francisco , but I thought he was only joking . I guess that Colonel Jim imagined that when it came to the pinch , Ed would n't back out and leave us in the lurch : he knew Ed was as brave as a lion . In the cut , where the train would be on the up grade , the Colonel got his lantern ready , lit it , and wrapped a thin red silk handkerchief round it . The express was timed to pass up there about midnight , but it was near one o'clock when her headlight came in sight . We knew all the passengers would be in bed in the sleepers , and asleep in the smoking car and the day coach . We did n't intend to meddle with them . The Colonel had brought a stick or two of dynamite from the mines , and was going to blow open the safe in the express car , and climb out with whatever was inside .