Chapter Fifteen, The Eagle Caged Summary and Analysis

After the ghost dance, Leonard experiences a period of peacefulness, but he knows the prison walls are closing in on him. Although Leonard is a medicine man uninterested in politics and does not carry a gun, his words have power, and that power is dangerous to the feds. The main charge brought against Leonard is obstruction of justice stemming from an incident at Wounded Knee. Leonard is sentenced to thirteen years for being the leader at Wounded Knee and therefore responsible for everything that happened during the siege. Leonard is set free on probation. However, the government does not like Leonard being free, so they find ways to bring more charges against him with the hopes of getting him thrown in jail.

On the morning of September 5, 1975, Mary and Leonard are awoken by...