The lust for revenge, the fury of hate, the yearning for the return of the days of the red man's independence raged through their speeches like fire in an open forest; and, ever fanning yet ever controlling the flame, old Copperhead presided till the moment should be ripe for such action as he desired.

Back and forward the question was deliberated.
Should they there and then pledge themselves to their Northern brothers and commit themselves to this great approaching adventure?
Quietly and with an air of judicial deliberation the Sioux put the question to them.

There was something to be lost and something to be gained.

But the loss, how insignificant it seemed! And the gain, how immeasurable! And after all success was almost certain.

What could prevent it?
A few scattered settlers with no arms nor ammunition, with no means of communication, what could they effect?
A Government nearly three thousand miles away, with the nearest base of military operations a thousand miles distant, what could they do?
The only real difficulty was the North West Mounted Police.