did go to the agency, he probably
would be arrested. So he declined.

Next, Agent McLaughlin arrived, in person, and roundly scolded him for
encouraging the "foolish" dancing.

Sitting Bull proposed to Agent McLaughlin that they journey together
into the west; and that if they could find no Indians there who had
seen the Messiah, he would tell his people that it all was a lie.

But Agent McLaughlin refused to do this, although it seemed to be a
fair proposition. When he rode away, the Ghost Dancers threatened him;
but Sitting Bull would permit no violence. He had been bathing, and
wore only his breech-clout. He stood almost naked in the cold, and
kept his people from attacking, until the agent was out of sight.

Sitting Bull prepared to join the other Ghost Dancers, who would be
expecting him. His horses had been doing nothing. They were well fed
and strong, and if he got a head start, he knew that he could keep it.
So, to show that his heart was not all bad, he had his son-in-law, who
could write a little in English, write a note to Agent McLaughlin.

Bull Ghost, who was called "One-eyed Riley" by the white people, and
who was his chief assistant in medicine making, took the note to the
agency. This was December 13. The note said, as far as Agent
McLaughlin could read it, that Sitting Bull had decided to go to Pine
Ridge, in order to know more about the prayers. He did not like to be
called a fool, and to have his prayers interrupted by gun and knife.

Lieutenant Bull Head was as smart as he. The lieutenant knew exactly
what was in Sitting Bull's mind; and he, too, sent a note to Agent
McLaughlin, saying that if Sitting Bull got away on his fresh ponies,
the police would not be able to catch him. The arrest ought to be made
at once.

The troops already had been directed to arrest Sitting Bull. "Buffalo
Bill" Cody, the famous scout, had arrived, to manage the arrest by help
of the soldiers. But Agent McLaughlin warned that if the soldiers went
down, there surely would be a fight, and many persons would be killed.
He was certain that his Indian police could do the work with less
trouble. By return courier, who was Second Sergeant Red Tomahawk, this
evening of December 14 he sent orders in English and in Sioux, to
Lieutenant Bull Head, that Sitting Bull should be arrested the first
thing in the morning, and must not be permitted to escape.

Sergeant Red Tomahawk rode the forty miles in the dark, over