“It so happened that the paths of Roaring Bull and Dakota Smith crossed. Roaring Bull was known as a great warrior of the Minneconjou tribe, wise, powerful and courageous. Dakota was known as a hard-drinking Yankee, a good-for-nothing ragged beggar of those who drove cattle from southern ranches to the loading stations of the Transatlantic Railroad. Roaring Bull was the son of a chief and a healer. Dakota Smith did not remember his mother, but saw his father only once in his life. This happened a day after he was released from prison, and two days before the saloon quarrel in which he was caught...”