PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS.
Red Rogers—A daredevil outlaw, who has broken from jail, killing four men in his escape, and returns to the scenes of his early crimes, that he may carry out a pledge made to a dying member of his gang, being pursued and eluding hundreds of troopers before he is finally sent to his doom, at the Old Stockade.
Rose Landon—Daughter of the man to whom Red Rogers made his pledge, who helped the outlaw to break jail and then accompanied him on his dash into the Bad Lands to carry out his vow. Repenting of her vicious life, she finally marries a young trooper whom Rogers has captured.
Pedro—A former member of Red Rogers' gang, who also assisted in his escape from jail, and, after accompanying the outlaw to the mountains, is captured by the troopers.
Jennings, Shaw, Scotty—Members of the Mounted Scouts, who have their horses stolen by the outlaw, and are afterwards taken prisoners by him and held as hostages.
Alkali—A half-breed scout, who eventually tracks Red Rogers to his doom.
Colonel Edwards—Commandant of Fort Griswold, the officer who takes charge of the pursuit of the outlaw.
Troopers, Deputy Marshals and Sheriffs and their posses.
CHAPTER I.
THE MYSTERIOUS SIGNAL.
"His-s-t!"
With startling suddenness, the cry shattered the stillness of the night that lay upon the foothills of the "Bad Lands."
As they heard it, three men who, rolled in their army blankets, were sleeping in the protecting shadow of a huge boulder, rose to their elbows and peered into the darkness, at the same time whipping out their "Colts" with their free hands.
But only the silence of the night, seeming more intense as the echo of the strident cry died away, greeted them.
"That must have been a signal," breathed one of the trio, after several minutes of listening.