midnight
It will be better to take my chances of fighting among the trees than to stay until those fellows come out . '' With this thought in his mind Jet started at a rapid pace through the woods , exerting himself to the utmost to keep ever before him the direction of the morning 's journey . The bread and bacon he had put in his pocket before attempting the escape , and now as he made his way through the underbrush he ate leisurely , for strength was the one thing needful for the successful completion of the task , and to retain this , food was essential . More than once he fell over the trunk of a tree , or was thrown by the vines which caught his feet as in a snare ; but each time he arose to his feet undismayed , and the weary tramp was continued without a halt until considerably past midnight , when he had arrived at the railroad track . With plenty of money in his pocket there was no thought of walking any farther than necessary , and Jet 's only desire was to find a depot . By continuing on half an hour longer in a direction opposite the one taken by him when he met the three apparent tramps , the boy found that for which he sought . The night train would be along in ten minutes , so the station-agent said , and Jet bought a ticket for Albany .