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.