"Up with your hands, Stiger," he said, sternly; and the hands went up, and Dan was master of the situation.

[ ]

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?"