captain dewitt c. poole at the whetstone indian agency reported chief blue horse's shock and anger to chief big mouth's murder. "blue horse started a violent harangue in the sioux language. he had a rifle in one hand and a strung bow and a bunch of arrows in the other, and when he dropped his blanket, two navy colts and a big scalping knife could be seen in their sheaths at his belt. he was in a raving fury, leaping and bounding about the room as he hurled accusations and threats at chief spotted tail. chief big mouth died toward dawn. some hours later, blue horse came to agent poole's office and told he that he felt so sad over the death of his great and good brother that he would have to wash off the paint he had put on his face for the feast the day before and begin mourning. the interpreter warned poole that if this indian washed his face and started mourning, it would mean the reopening of the feud and more shootings. the agent would give blue horse two blankets, that would comfort him, and he would refrain from washing his face and going gunning for spotted tail. the blankets were handed over, and the grieving brother went quietly away." poole later reported that chief spotted tail made a prompt payment of a stipulated number of ponies to blue horse and that aboriginal law had been vindicated.