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My name is Amos, Amos Adams, and Ill be right well pleased to stay over with you to-night, sure I will, the boy went on to say.
So it was settled, and out of just such small things as their meeting Amos in such a strange way great events sometimes spring. But none of the scouts so much as suspected this when they busied themselves preparing the camp, building the cooking fire, and seeing that all the animals were staked out to feed, after watering them.
CHAPTER IV. PICKING UP POINTS
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, youve heard as much of his talk as any of us, Jack, replied the leader of the expedition, quietly, and so far theres been nothing said about himself. Im
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, its 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 isnt always a safe thing to do. But you see, Amos, in your case its 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 wed like to hear something about you.
Thats 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 Id 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 Im ready to tell you who I am, and what Im adoin out here.
Not that we think youre anything that you shouldnt be, Amos, put in Jack.
Well, my names Amos Adams, just like I said, and all my life Ive been around a cattle ranch. Thats why I know so much about roping steers, and riding buckin broncs. I guess I was in a saddle before my ma weaned me. There are a few things mebbe I cant quite do as well as some of these here prize punchers, but its only because I aint as strong as them, thats all.
Looking at his confident face the scouts believed that Amos was only speaking the plain truth.
My dads name is Hy Adams, continued the kid puncher. I guess you aint been around these diggins much yet, or youd a heard who he is. They call him the Bad Man of the Bittersweets, and when he raises his fog-horn of a voice lots of men that think themselves brave just give a hitch to their shoulders this way, and he imitated it to the life as he spoke, and does what he tells em. Thats when hes been drinkin. But then there are other times oh, well, I reckon, I hadnt ought to tell family secrets.
We live in a cabin, bout ten miles away from here. My dad, hes in the cattle business, when he dont loaf. Sometimes hes round home, and agin he aint, just cordin to how things are agoin. Mam, shes a little woman, but she knows how to run the house. I gotter sister, too, youngern me, and her name its Polly. I aint gone to school any to speak of, but mam, she kinder teaches me, when I aint ridin out on the range, or totin my gun on a hunt. That makes me mad to think I lost my gun in the drink there.
No use hunting for it in the morning, I should think? suggested Jack.
Nary bit, the boy replied quickly; its down under that shiftin sand long before now. But then she was an old gun, and Im savin up to git a new six-shot rifle, so it dont need to be long now before Ill be heeled agin.