CHAPTER XVI. 

AFTER A MISSING MUSTANG. 

"What are you going to do with me?" asked Hank Stiger, after a moment of painful silence, during which Dan glanced toward Henry, to find his friend reviving rapidly. 

"You'll find out later, Stiger. I can tell you one thing, you've gotten yourself in a pretty tight box." 

"It wasn't my fault,--you forced the shooting," was the sullen response. "Why didn't you leave me alone from the start?" 

"Because I am bound to have those papers and the other articles you stole, that's why." 

"I took nothing, I swear it." 

"Do you expect me to believe you,--after what has happened here, and after that affair of the deer?" 

At this Stiger was silent. He wanted to get up and rush at Dan, despite the levelled pistol, but the wounded knee held him back. Had he been a full-blooded Indian he would have suffered in silence, but, being only a half-breed, and of poor Indian and white blood at that, he groaned dismally. 

"Dan!" The cry came faintly from Henry, who had slowly raised himself. "Where--what--oh, I remember, now!" And he sank back again. 

"It's all right, Henry; I've made Stiger a prisoner." 

"A prisoner!" whined the half-breed. "Ain't I suffered enough already? My leg is somethin' fearful!" and he groaned again. 

"You brought it all on yourself, Stiger, so you need not complain to me." 

"I didn't, you----" 

"I won't listen to any more explanations. Throw your knife over here, and be careful you don't hit anybody with it." 
Is Dan going to punish Hank?
unknown