"You have three minutes left," said the man with the pistol, looking at his watch. "Oh, Lord! oh, Lord! oh, Lord!" ejaculated Wiggins. "If that's all you've got to say, you might as well shut up and be hung at once. Two minutes left!" "Oh! oh! oh!" groaned Perch. "One minute!" "Mercy!--mercy!--mercy!" cried Moses. The man cocked his pistol and elevated it over his head. "Oh, Lord! oh, Lord! oh, Lord!" screamed Wiggins. "Hold on!" cried a voice in the crowd. "What's broke loose?" said the man, lowering his pistol and turning round. "Here comes the Alcalde!" shouted a number of voices, as a rough fellow, with long hair, galloped up and halted his panting horse in front of the gallows. "What are you doing there?" asked he. And he glanced at Moses and his comrades, sitting on the mules, with the ropes around their necks. "Hanging Red Mike, Long-Nose Jack, and the Preacher," said the man with the pistol in his hand. "You have waked up the wrong passengers. We caught the infernal thieves on the road to San José. Here they are," said the Alcalde, as a party of men galloped up, having three prisoners in custody with their hands tied behind their backs. "Let these men go," said the Alcalde, pointing to Moses and the other two who were just about to be hung. The supposed robbers were released and the real offenders placed on the backs of the mules. "Run!" cried Moses, "run! run!" And he and his two companions fled in headlong haste to the water's edge, and encountered Toney and the other occupants of the boat, who were just landing. "Where are you going?" said Toney, as all three leaped into the boat and seized the oars. "Home!" exclaimed Moses. "Back to the States!" cried Perch. "I wouldn't stay here a week for all the gold in the mountains!" shouted Wiggins. "Come back! don't be fools! it was all a mistake," said Toney. "You'll be murdered," said Wiggins. "Oh, Toney, come with us! They will hang you if you stay here!" cried Moses. "Don't make dunces of yourselves," said Toney. "Good-by!" said Wiggins. "Farewell! farewell!" cried Perch. "God bless you, Toney!" ejaculated Moses, as he and Perch commenced pulling vigorously at the oars, while Wiggins laid hold on the tiller. They rested not during the whole ensuing night, and in the afternoon of the next day arrived at San Francisco. A steamer was about to sail, and they immediately went on board, and in a fortnight were landed at Panama. Having procured mules, they proceeded across the Isthmus to Cruces. Here they entered a public house, and behind the bar beheld a bald-headed man washing a bottle. "Look there!" exclaimed Perch. "Mr. Pate!" cried Wiggins. The bald-headed man looked up, and, uttering a cry of recognition, dropped the bottle, and, running from behind the bar, threw his arms around Wiggins's neck and hugged him fraternally. CHAPTER XLVI.