He inferred that Denboro was a bigger and more wide-awake village than Ostable.
But he was mistaken.

The reason for the excitement was made plain by the conductor a moment afterwards.

That official entered the car, removed his uniform cap, and rubbed a wet forehead with a wetter hand.
"Well, gentlemen," he said, "I've been expecting it, and here it is.
Mark me down as a good prophet, will you?
There's a washout a mile further on, and a telegraph pole across the track.

It's blowing great guns and raining pitchforks.

It'll be out of the question for us to go forward before daylight, if then.