“It’s for your own safety, Broad,” replied Moore, “and there is not another man in the country for whom I’d take the risk; but you were my friend when I needed friendship: you saved my life, gave me food and shelter and care; and I can never forget to be grateful—but you must pledge your honor not to betray me.” “Freely, freely, Moore; I would lose my life first.” “Then,” said Moore, “I give you friendly warning that there is a band of road agents here, that know of your having received a large quantity of gold dust during the past three days. They are informed of the time of your intended departure for Deer Lodge, and intend to waylay and murder you on the way, and corral your gold. You are ‘spotted’ for slaughter. My advice to you is to leave town secretly, and to be constantly on your guard, and under no circumstances let _any_ one, not even your most intimate friend, know when you will leave.” “I intended going to-morrow morning,” replied Broadwater, “but if matters are as you tell me, I think I’ll start to-night.” At this Moore exclaimed, “Why, you fool! there you go, shooting off your mouth to me the first thing. Didn’t I caution you not to tell _any one_? And in less than a minute you tell me just what you’re going to do.” It would be curious to know by what system of ethics Moore was governed in this strange admonition; whether it was to impress upon Broadwater the necessity of a caution which should withhold confidence even from the person who warned him of a danger, or whether there was a conflict between gratitude to Broadwater and fidelity to his confederates. It is not improbable that he was bound by strong obligations to communicate to his associates the very information which Broadwater had given him.