“I think it is colder than our mountain streams, Grant?”

“It’s no colder, your honour, but the water is smooth and still, and we do not have to wrestle with it as with a brook in spate.  It’s the stillness which makes it feel so cold.  The harder we swim the less we will feel it.”

It was with a deep feeling of relief that Malcolm saw something loom just in front of him from the darkness, and knew that he was close to the land.  A few more strokes and he touched the bushes.  Looking back he saw that the two lights were nearly in a line.  Stopping swimming he let the stream drift him down.  Two or three minutes more and one of the tiny lights seemed exactly above the other.

“This is the spot, Grant,” he said in a low voice; “land here as quietly as you can.”

CHAPTER XI THE CAPTURE OF OPPENHEIM

The two swimmers dragged themselves on shore, but for a minute or two could scarce stand, so numbed were their limbs by the cold.  Malcolm took from his belt a flask of brandy, took a long draught, and handed it to his companion, who followed his example.

The spirit sent a glow of warmth through their veins, and they began to search among the bushes for the boat, one proceeding each way along the bank.  They had not removed their leathern doublets before entering the water, as these, buoyed up as they were, would not affect their swimming, and would be a necessary protection when they landed not only against the cold of the night air but against the bushes.

Malcolm’s beacon proved an accurate guide, for he had not proceeded twenty yards before he came against a solid object which he at once felt to be the boat.  A low whistle called the sergeant to his side, bringing with him the rollers and paddles from the spot where they had landed.  They soon felt that the boat was a large one, and that their strength would have been wholly insufficient to get her into the water without the aid of the lever and rollers.  Taking the former they placed its end under the stern post, and placing a roller under its heel to serve as a pivot they threw their weight on the other end of the lever and at once raised the boat some inches in the air.

Grant held the lever down and Malcolm slid a roller as far up under the keel as it would go; the lever was then shifted and the boat again raised, and the process was continued until her weight rested upon three rollers.  She was now ready to be launched, and as the bank was steep they had no doubt of their ability to run her down.  An examination had already shown that their paddles would be needless, as the oars were inside her.  They took their places one on each side of the bow, and applying their strength the boat glided rapidly down.

“Gently, Grant,” Malcolm said, “don’t let her go in with a splash.  There may be some sentries within hearing.”

They continued their work cautiously, and the boat noiselessly entered the water.  Getting out the oars they gave her a push, and she was soon floating down the stream.  The rowlocks were in their places, and rowing with extreme care so as to avoid making the slightest sound they made their way across the river.  They were below the camp when they landed, but there were many men on the lookout, for the news of the attempt had spread rapidly.