Lieutenant Irvin: "But has no one passed or stopped here, answering my description?" Both ladies were now considerably worked up; the younger scarcely suppressed her amusement. "Come, ladies," said Lieutenant Irvin, "I see you both know more than you will confess." "If I do, I will die before I tell it," naively replied the elder. "Now I know you know where General Toombs is." "Then get it out of me if you can." Finally the young man persuaded her that he was the friend of Toombs, and Mrs. Gonder reluctantly directed him to Colonel Jack Smith's over on the Oconee River. Riding up to Colonel Smith's, his valiant pursuer spied General Toombs through the window. The head of the house, however, denied that Toombs was there at all. "But that looks very much like him through the window," said Lieutenant Irvin. "Young man," retorted Colonel Smith, "what is your name?" Of course this disclosure led to the reunion of the fugitive and his friend. Toombs realized that he was in almost as much danger from his own friends as from the enemy. He was careful to whom he disclosed his identity or his plans, for fear that they might indiscreetly comment on his presence or embarrass him even by their willingness to befriend him. So it was that he proceeded secretly, picking his way by stealth, and actually doing much of his travel by night. At the home of Colonel Jack Smith, the two men remained a week to rest their horses and take their bearings. General Toombs spent much time on the Oconee trolling for trout, while bodies of Union cavalry were watching the ferries and guarding the fords, seining for bigger fish. Passing into Wilkinson County, General Toombs stopped at the home of Mr. Joseph Deas. When Lieutenant Irvin asked if the pair could come in, Deas replied, "Yes, if you can put up with the fare of a man who subsists in Sherman's track." A maiden sister of Deas lived in the house. With a woman's sensitive ear, she recognized General Toombs' voice, having heard him speak at Toombsboro seventeen years before. This discovery, she did not communicate to her brother until after the guests had retired. Deas had been discussing politics with Toombs, and his sister asked him if he knew to whom he had been talking all night? Deas said he did not. "Joe Deas," she said, "are you a fool? Don't you know that is General Toombs?" Strange to say, a negro on the place, just as they were leaving, cried out "Good-by, Marse Bob." He had driven the family to the speaking seventeen years before, and had not forgotten the man who defended slavery on that day. "Good Lord!" said Toombs, "go give that negro some money."