three o'clock
I wish I could balance it on my head . '' Clay did not exaggerate the perverse and obstinate nature of that hat box . It changed bearers no less than six times before the mendacious signpost was reached , and then its victims were so exhausted that they had to lie down on the grass and rest . It was already past three o'clock when the boys resumed their tramp , abandoning the road and heading across country along the same course by which they had come . For the first two or three miles they did not pay any special attention to the scenery around them ; they were kept busy climbing fences and hills , and taking care of the refractory cake box , which became more and more of a burden every moment . Finally as they were descending a long wooded slope , Ned was amazed to discover that the mountains , instead of being straight ahead , lay off to the right . `` That 's a funny mistake , '' he said .