Moses and Perch were dumb with terror, as they were dragged into one of the barges, while Wiggins ejaculated,—
"Oh, Lord! oh, Lord!" With loud cheers the men rowed away in the direction of Stockton. Toney and his friends followed, but were soon left far behind.
When the lynching-party reached Stockton with their captives, loud shouts were heard on shore.
"They have got them! they have got them! Ropes!—ropes!" were the cries, as the unfortunate prisoners were dragged from the barge.
"Hang them! hang them!" was shouted and screamed by infuriated men, who came running with ropes prepared for the execution of the robbers. The affrighted prisoners were hurried to a large oak, which stood about a hundred yards from the main street. Three mules were now led to the spot, and the supposed felons, with ropes around their necks, were made to mount on the backs of the animals. A man climbed into the tree and fastened the ropes to a large horizontal limb. Each mule was held by its bridle, while a man stood behind with a whip, ready to apply the lash at a given signal.
"Now," said a tall individual, who seemed to be the leader of the lynchers, "if you three fellows have got any thing to say, sing out. You have got five minutes to live. When I fire off this pistol, the mules will jump from under you, and you are gone."
"Oh!—oh!—oh!" groaned Perch.
"Tell my father," said Moses, turning his head round and looking piteously at Perch, "that I was hung for nothing."
"I can't tell him," said Perch, "I've got to be hung myself,—oh!—oh!—oh!"
"You have three minutes left," said the man with the pistol, looking at his watch.