- While looking for work, Jason comes upon some miners performing a Kangaroo court on a man who they believed killed a fellow miner after a poker game went sour the night before. But Jason soon learns that the man may have witnessed the entire massacre at Bitter Creek.—Michelle
- In the words of Jason McCord:
I was looking for work. I came to Colossus Mining Company, and it looked abandoned, but I heard voices from a small shack. After knocking on the door, I was greeted by a man with a rifle. He made it obvious that I wasnt welcome there, and warned me to leave.
I wasnt sure about that man. He looked pretty rough to me. I soon heard arguing coming from the shack and realized they were trying a man in a kangaroo court. I heard him declared that he was innocent, and it took me back to another time another man in a court declaring he was innocent (me). So, I decided to butt in to make sure an innocent man wasnt killed without a proper trial. It was pretty easy to get a gun on these men. I demanded Briswell to tell his story to me. He said he was playing poker with an old man the night before. He raised the man and won his watch and other things, then he left. The miners, however, claimed that Briswell killed the old man.
Then one of the miners recognized me. He knew I was Jason McCord of Bitter Creek. Briswell declared that I was innocent he had seen the whole massacre from behind a tree up on a hill. I had to know more, so I cut Briswell loose and told him to get the mens guns. I wanted to make sure these men didnt come after me, so I busted them and threw them in a barrel. I told Briswell to go to his horse, then I lit a match and threw it in. I warned the men they should run for cover before the barrel started shooting bullets.
After we rode a ways, I told Briswell we were going to a fort. I wanted him to tell what he knew about Bitter Creek. But we didnt make it to the Fort before I saw some Apahes torturing a sholder. They had him hung by his feet from a tree and were just about to finish him off when I came and started fighting him. I figured I could avoid killing the Indian, but Briswell didnt hesitate. He shot the Indian dead. I wasnt too happy about that.
The Lieutenant who showed up with his troops a minute later was Lieutenant Shanley. He was an old friend of mine, and believed I was innocent of the charges against me. I told him Briswell had witnessed Bitter Creek, so we went back to his camp and took the report. But I was bothered as I listened to Briswell tell his story. The Lieutenant informed Briswell that the army would have more questions. He would need to stay around for ten days. Briswell argued, stating he needed to get on his way, but I promised to put him up at a hotel in Yuka City for his help. Lieutenant assured him the army would pay him for his trouble. Briswell hesitated, but agreed to stay.
We stopped to camp for the night. Briswell wanted to go on into Yuka City and meet me there later, but I had the idea Briswell wanted to run away from me. I dont think he had any notion on sticking around. I started questioning his story. How did he know how many Apaches there were? What kind of tree was he hiding behind? How did he know I fell beside the General? Things didnt seem to add up. I couldnt believe he could see that well, and he told me an Apache acted that way all the time. He didnt even know the attack had happened at night.
I caught him red-handed. He knew he couldnt lie his way out of that, so he admitted that he wasnt anywhere near Bitter Creek. He just said that so Id save his life, and as a favor to me. I told him I didnt want any favors from him. He was angry I was going to go dirty my name again? I told him my name wasnt dirty until he butted in. I was angry and told him we were going back to the army camp to tell the truth. He pulled a gun on me, but fortunately I didnt let him keep it for long. I asked him if he killed that old man and he said he had. I assured him he would get a trial not a kangaroo trial though.
We rode back to the army camp. I asked the Lieutenant for the journal and tore out the report. I told him I found out too late that the man was lying. He reminded me I didnt have to come back. I knew that. He saluted me and called me Captain.
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