All the village turned out to bid him goodbye; several of the women, and many of the children, crying at his departure.
The journey down was accomplished without adventure; the men giving out, at the villages at which they stopped, that they were on their way to Peshawar, to give assurances to the British there that they were ready to submit to terms.

On nearing Peshawar, Lisle abandoned his Afridi costume and resumed his khaki uniform.
When he arrived at the town, he went at once to headquarters.

The sentry at the door belonged to his own regiment; and he started, and his rifle almost fell from his hand, as his eye fell upon Lisle.
"I am not a ghost," Lisle laughed, "but am very much alive.
"I am glad to see you again, Wilkins," and he passed in at the door.
"Is the general engaged ?" he asked the orderly who, like the soldier at the door, stood gazing at him stupidly.
"No, sir," the man gasped.
"Then I will go in unannounced." General Lockhart looked up from the papers he was reading, and gave a sudden start.
"I have come to report myself ready for duty, sir," Lisle said, with a smile.
"Good heavens! Mr.Bullen, you have given me quite a turn! We had all regarded your death as certain; and your name appeared in the list of casualties, five months ago.
"I am truly glad to see you again," and he heartily shook Lisle's hand.

"There is another in here who will be glad to see you." He opened the door, and said: "Colonel Houghton, will you step in here, for a moment ?" As the colonel entered the room, and his eye fell upon Lisle, he stood as if suddenly paralysed.

The blood rushed from his cheeks.
"I am glad to see that you have recovered from your wound, sir," Lisle said.
The blood surged back into the colonel's face.