CHAPTER XV.
DAN TURNS THE TABLES.
To the boys at the ranch the days passed impatiently enough. But fewsettlers came that way, so that they were cut off almost entirely fromcommunication with the outside world.
The puma skin had been brought in and cared for, and now they turnedtheir attention to getting ready for the winter, which was close athand.
One day, unable to stand it longer, Dan rode down to Gonzales for thenews. He found the town bubbling over with joy because of the victoryat Concepcion.
"They can't stand up against our men," said the storekeeper who wastalking to Dan. "The Texans are brave and nearly all good shots, andthey are fighting for their homes. The greasers, on the other hand, arelazy and unreliable, paid to do what they are doing, and consequentlythink of nothing but saving their own skin."
"Oh, I reckon some of them are patriotic enough," answered Dan. "Butthey are in the minority."
"How can they be patriotic, and follow such a man as Santa Anna, who iscontinually leading all Mexico by the nose? No, they are doing it forthe pay, and nothing else."
At the post-office Dan found a brief letter from his father, statingthat he was well, and that if no more fighting came off in the nearfuture he would come home on a short visit. So far there had been noregular enlistments in the Texan army, and volunteers came and wentpretty much as they pleased.
From the storekeeper Dan learned that several bands of Indians had beenseen in the vicinity, moving to the west and north. Some wereComanches, and others friendly Caddos.
"Well, I don't mind the Caddos," thought the boy, "but I don't want tofall in with any more Comanches."
He had thought to go home that afternoon, or evening, as it is calledin Texas, but, after learning about the Indians, resolved to remain inGonzales all night and make the journey the first thing in the morning.
On the outskirts of Gonzales was the farm belonging to Henry Parker'sfather, and thither he went, satisfied that he would be sure of a warmwelcome. He found Henry at home, and also Mrs. Parker, Mr. Parker beingaway on business.
"Why, of course you must stay," said Mrs. Parker. "I am glad to havecompany."
The balance of the day passed pleasantly, and after supper the youngman and Dan took a stroll up into the town to learn if any later newshad come in.
They had just gained the main street of the town when Dan saw beforehim a figure that looked familiar. He quickened his pace, and soonranged up alongside of the man, who proved to be the half-breed, HankStiger.
Stiger was partly under the influence of liquor, or otherwise he wouldnot have shown himself in Gonzales at that time, when the Indian raidwas still fresh in the settlers' minds. He glared angrily at Dan whenhe saw the boy.
"Stiger, I want to have a talk with you," said Dan, with more firmnessthan is usual in one of his age.
"What you want now?" demanded the half-breed.
"I want to know what you have done with my father's papers."
"What papers do you mean?"
"The papers you stole from my father's cabin while we were out afterthe Indians."
"I was not near your house--I took no papers!" cried the half-breed,fiercely. "Who says so tells a lie."
"I know you did take them, and unless you give them up I will have youplaced under arrest."
"Ha! don't you talk to Hank Stiger that way, or you will be sorry forit." The half-breed's hand stole under his coat, and he showed thehandle of his hunting-knife. "Do you see dat?"
Dan sprang back, for he knew how treacherous the man before him couldbe. But now Henry Parker stepped up.
"None of that, Stiger," he said, sharply, and placed his hand on thehandle of the pistol he carried in his belt.
"He wants to make trouble for me. He says I stole some papers," growledHank Stiger, sullenly.
"And I guess he is right, too," returned Henry. "If I understand thematter, he has proof against you."
"Ha! did Big Foot tell----" Stiger broke off short, realising that hewas exposing himself.
"Yes, Big Foot told me everything," said Dan. "And you must give upthose papers, or take the consequence."
Hank Stiger's face grew as dark as a thunder-cloud.
"I'll pay off that Injun for it!" he cried. "I knew he wasn't to betrusted, the skunk! But I ain't got no papers, never had 'em! This is aput-up job to get squar' on account o' that deer," he continued, tryingto change the subject. "You got the deer, what more do you want?"
"I am not talking deer now,--I am asking for those papers,--and theother things which were stolen," resumed Dan, doggedly. "What have youdone with them?"
"Find out fer yourself!" growled Hank Stiger, and turning swiftly, hestarted on a run for the nearest corner.
"Stop! or I'll fire!" cried Henry Parker, as he drew his pistol, butbefore he could make up his mind whether or not he had a right to fireon the half-breed, Stiger was out of sight. Dan ran after him, and hisfriend joined in the chase.
Stiger's course was toward the river, and having reached this, heleaped into a canoe which was handy and began to paddle with all speedfor the opposite shore. A large lumber-raft was lying in midstream, andthis he kept as much as possible between himself and his pursuers.
"He's bound to get away if he can," observed Henry, as the pair gainedthe bank of the Guadalupe almost out of breath.
"Here is another canoe--let us follow him in that," replied Dan.
Henry was willing, and they were soon on the river. Dan could paddlewell, and they made rapid progress around the raft and in the directionHank Stiger was taking.
Reaching the opposite shore at a point some distance below Gonzales,the half-breed leaped into the bushes and made his way to a pine grovefarther away from the bank. The pursuers followed him to the point ofembarkation with ease, but here came to a halt.
"If it wasn't so dark we might follow his trail," observed Henry. "ButI can't see a thing under the trees."
"Here it is," came from Dan, who was on his hands and knees. "He wentinto the pines. I'm going a bit farther," and he stalked off. Henryremained behind to fasten the canoe, that the current might not carrythe craft off.
Dan had scarcely come up to the first row of pines when he sawsomething moving over to his left. Satisfied that it was Stiger, hesped in the direction. The half-breed saw him, and ran on.
"I've spotted him!" cried Dan to his friend. "Come on!"
"All right, I'm coming!" answered Henry.
On through the tall pines ran pursued and pursuers, until nearlyquarter of a mile had been covered. Dan was in front, with Henry closebehind.
"You are fools to follow me here!" roared Hank Stiger, as he came to ahalt. "Take that for your foolishness."
"Hide! he is going to fire!" exclaimed Dan, but before either he or hisfriend could gain any shelter Hank Stiger discharged a pistol which hecarried. The bullet missed Dan, but struck Henry Parker across thetemple, and the young man went down, stunned and unconscious.
The unexpected turn of affairs made Dan's heart leap into his throat,and he felt how imprudent both had been to thus expose themselves insuch an out of the way spot to a man in Stiger's condition. He drew hisown pistol, but the half-breed knew enough to dart out of sight behinda thick clump of bushes.
"Henry, are you badly hurt?" questioned the boy, anxiously, but noreply came back, and running to Parker, he found the young man flat onhis back and as still as death.
Never had Dan felt so badly as at this moment, for if his friend wasdead he felt that he would be more or less responsible for the murder.
He bent down and made a closer examination, and as he did this Henrygave a deep shudder and opened his eyes for an instant.
"Thank God, he is alive!" burst from Dan's lips. Then, noticing theblood trickling from Henry's temple, he bound up the young man'sforehead with his handkerchief.
In the meantime, Hank Stiger was making a detour, expecting to come upbehind Dan and surprise him. He had drank just enough to be utterlyreckless,
and carried his pistol in his hand ready for another shot.
Providence saved Dan from the anticipated attack. While Stiger wasstill two rods off, the boy happened to turn and catch sight of him.His pistol was still in his hand, and, without stopping to think twice,he fired on the half-breed.
The effect of the shot was curious, and the feat performed would behard to duplicate. The bullet from Dan's pistol struck the hammer ofStiger's weapon, and while the pistol exploded and the ball sank intothe ground, the hammer was knocked off and hit the half-breed in thecheek, inflicting an ugly wound. The bullet itself, having hit thehammer, glanced downward and lodged in Stiger's leg, close to hishalf-bent knee. The man gave a howl of pain and then fell flat.
In a moment Dan was ready for a second shot, but it was not needed.Stiger's pistol was now useless, and as he could not stand up, becauseof the intense pain in his knee, handling his knife was out of thequestion. As he sat up, the boy faced him sternly.
"Up with your hands, Stiger," he said, sternly; and the hands went up,and Dan was master of the situation.
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