“The whites must be rooted out before the time arrives. They are going to keep up this Ghost Dance to help the matter along. I am almost to the Sioux now.”
“I beg your pardon,” said Lieutenant Parker. “I will not interrupt you again, but I want to get at the truth of the matter.”
“This is just what I want you to do. I want you to see that, while this new religion came upon the earth as a gospel of peace, it has taken such a hold of the Sioux that it means war. Whether or not the men they sent out to investigate the matter lied to them I don’t know; but if this thing is not put a stop to right away, we are going to have an outbreak as sure as you are born. If all the Sioux look upon it as do those six hundred men that go with Sitting Bull and Red Cloud, we shall have a war here that will do your heart good.”
“How many men can the Sioux raise if they all go to war at once?” inquired Parker.
“Probably five thousand men; and we can bring about three thousand to oppose them.”
“How many people does the Sioux nation number altogether?”
“About twenty thousand.”
As Carl said this he brought out his tobacco-bag and filled up for another smoke.