He had not taken the time to return to the charcoal burner's hut for his uniform, and, when he approached his own lines he still wore the Sunday best of Perkins.
The sentinel who hailed him first doubted his claim that he was a member of the Invincibles, but he insisted so urgently, and called all its officers by name so readily that he was passed on.

He dismounted, gave his horse to an orderly, and walked toward a clump of trees where he saw Colonel Talbot writing at a small table in the open.

The colonel, engrossed in his work, did not look up, as the boy's footsteps made little sound on the turf.

When Harry stood before him he saluted and said: "I have returned to make my report, Colonel Talbot." The colonel looked up, uttered a cry of pleasure and seized Harry by both hands.
"Thank God, you've come back, my boy!" he said.

"I hesitated to send your father's son on such an errand, but I thought that you would succeed.