Jack asked this question in a low tone. They had cooked supper, and disposed of it promptly; and there had been an abundance for the guest, as well as the four chums. And now the two scouts were lounging near the fire, while Jimmy and Amos cleaned up the tin dishes and cooking utensils; Harry meanwhile being busily engaged with some notes he wanted to jot down for future use, in comparing his recent experiences with those of others who had suffered tortures in the notorious Death Valley. "Well, you've heard as much of his talk as any of us, Jack," replied the leader of the expedition, quietly, "and so far there's been nothing said about himself. I'm going to beckon to Amos to come over here, and put a few leading questions to him. Out here when a fellow is entertained at the camp fire, it's only fair that he give some sort of an account of himself. Besides, Amos looks so much like a kid, just as you say, that it makes the thing seem queer." A minute later, catching the eye of the boy, he crooked his finger and nodded his head. Plainly Amos understood, for he immediately came across. "Sit down, Amos," Ned told him. The small boy in the cowboy suit did so, at the same time allowing a sort of smile to come upon his bronzed face. "Want to know somethin' about me, I reckon?" he remarked, keenly. Jack chuckled as though amused at his shrewdness; but Ned only said: "Well, ordinarily out here on the plains I understand that men seldom express any curiosity about their chance guests; it isn't always a safe thing to do. But you see, Amos, in your case it's different." "Sure it is; I get on to that, Mr. Scout Master," replied the boy, readily; for he had ere this noticed the emblem which Ned bore upon his khaki coat, and which stamped him as authorized to answer to this name, which would indicate that Amos knew something about the Boy Scout business. "In the first place we chanced to be of some little assistance to you." "A heap!" broke in the other, quickly. "And then, excuse me for saying it, but you are such a kid that anybody would be surprised to run across you out by yourself, carrying a gun, riding a pony like the smartest puncher going, and after big game at the time you got stuck in that quicksand--all of which, Amos, must be our excuse for feeling that we'd like to hear something about you." "That's only fair and square, Ned," the boy spoke up immediately; "Jimmy there has been telling me the greatest lot of stuff about what you fellows have been doing all over, that I'd think he was stuffing me, only he held up his hand right in the start, and declared he never told anything but the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him. And I'm ready to tell you who I am, and what I'm adoin' out here." "Not that we think you're anything that you shouldn't be, Amos," put in Jack.