The arrest of Sitting Bull was certain to cause excitement among his people, and would perhaps be attended by violence. The plan was carefully guarded, and a time was selected, when most of the Indians would be at the agency drawing their rations. The delay would have been greater, had it not been learned that the chief was preparing to leave the reservation, and unless the authorities acted promptly, would soon be beyond reach. Forty Indian police galloped toward the camp of the famous medicine man, followed at some distance by two troops of cavalry and a force of infantry. When within a few miles, these bodies united and halted. The plan was that the soldiers should station themselves some two miles from the camp, where they would be within call, should the police need their help. Then the Indian police rode forward at an easy pace. When they reached his tent, Sitting Bull was in bed. He was roused and told that he was under arrest. He did not resist (you will remember he was lacking in personal courage) and would have submitted quietly but for his son, Crow Foot, a bright fellow of seventeen years. He was provoked by the meekness of his father. "You are very brave," he said, "when there is no danger, but when the police come you are a child." Roused by the taunt, Sitting Bull began fighting, and called to his friends to come to his help. One of these caught up a gun and added his shouts. The next minute the battle was on, and raged viciously for some minutes. The hostiles were twice as numerous as the police, and though the latter fought heroically, they quickly found themselves in serious danger. Several were shot down, and the outlook was doubtful, when one of them galloped to the top of the nearest hill and signalled to the cavalry, who dashed forward on a dead run. A few minutes later, they opened with their Hotchkiss and Gatling guns and dispersed the hostiles. In this affray, five of the police were killed, including the lieutenant in command. Of the hostiles, seven were shot, besides Sitting Bull, who was slain by the lieutenant a moment before his own death. In addition to these, Crow Foot, the son of the chief, was drawn out from hiding and killed by the police who were enraged because of the losses they had suffered. This was apparently not justified even in war.