It took ten minutes to get the agency by way of town, and but ten seconds thereafter to get Ray. He and his guard were billeted about the main building. "What do you think of this idea of going out and arresting ring-leaders?" asked Stone. "You weren't sent there for any such purpose." And Ray answered: "He has gone to a pow-pow with Black Wolf's people, and was thinking better of it after a little talk we had."
"Well," said Stone, "how about the—the situation? Do you think they'll make trouble? Do you need more men?"
And Sandy answered "Not to-night, sir. Tell better in the morning."
Stone did not like the outlook, but what was he to do? The agent had called for no more troops, and, until he called, Stone was forbidden to send unless some dire emergency arose, and then he must accept all responsibility, as one or other side was sure to get the worst of it, and he the blame. He went over and told Mrs. Ray he had just been talking with Sandy, who was all serene, said he, and all reassuringly he answered her anxious questions. Then he asked for Jimmy, whose temperature was ominously high, and for Dwight, whose spirits were correspondingly low. Dwight came out from the den, haggard, unshaven, gaunt. Never before had he been known to lack quick interest when danger threatened a comrade. To-night he hardly noted what Stone said about the situation at the agency. He was thinking only of his boy, and Stone, vaguely disappointed, went in search of Hurst, the senior captain, and Hurst looked grave. He, too, had had his share in Indian experience, and liked not the indications.
"I don't fancy the agent's going to that pow-wow. He should have had the chief men come to him," said Hurst.
"They wouldn't—said they feared the soldiers might shoot," said Stone, in explanation.
"Anybody with him, sir?"
"Ray says he insisted on an orderly, so one man went with him, to hold his horse while he talked. Skelton was chosen. He speaks a little Sioux."
"Man we had a while ago on account of the Foster matter?" asked Hurst, with uplifted eyebrows.
"Same. He's at home among the Indians, and some of them like him. Guess he's seen 'em before."