He could have done so at San Francisco but he wanted to see his wife and child and believed he would get more mercy at Fort Blizzard than any where else.
Then the prisoner was called to tell his story.

He did it quietly and in a few words.

He had no thought of deserting until he struck the Sergeant.

Then he was frightened and ran away and, making the railway station, hid in a freight car and got away.

He worked his way East, and found employment as a miner and was earning good wages, but his conscience troubled him, especially after he received a letter from his wife.