It was Shepard who had reported to headquarters and who afterwards came over to the shade of a tree where Colonel Winchester and his little staff were gathered.
He was on the verge of exhaustion.

He was black under the eyes and the veins of his neck were distended.

Dust covered him from head to foot.
He threw himself on the ground and drank deeply from a canteen of cool water that Dick handed to him.

All saw that Shepard, the spy, the man whose life was a continual danger, who had never before shown emotion, was in a state of excitement, and if they waited a little he would speak of his own accord.
Shepard took the canteen from his lips, drew several long deep breaths of relief and said: "Do you know what I have seen ?" "I don't, but I infer from your manner, Shepard, that it must be of great importance," said Colonel Winchester.
"I've seen Stonewall Jackson at the head of half of Lee's army behind us! Standing between us and Washington!" "What! Impossible! How could he get there ?" "It's possible, because it's been done--I've seen the rebel army behind us.

In these civilian clothes of mine, I've been in their ranks, and I've talked with their men.