"
The next morning Malcolm wandered along the bank closely examining
the bushes as he went, to see if any boats might be concealed among
them, for the fishermen and boatmen would naturally try to save
their craft when they heard that the Imperialists were destroying
them. He walked three miles up the river without success. As he
returned he kept his eyes fixed on the bushes on the opposite bank.
When within half a mile of the camp he suddenly stopped, for his
eye caught something dark among them. He went to the water's edge
and stooped, the better to see under the bushes, and saw what
he doubted not to be the stern of a boat hauled up and sheltered
beneath them. He leapt to his feet with a joyful exclamation. Here
was the means of crossing the river; but the boat had to be brought
over. Once afloat this would be easy enough, but he was sure that
his own strength would be insufficient to launch her, and that he
should need the aid of at least one man. On returning to camp he
called aside the sergeant of his company, James Grant, who was from
his own estate in Nithsdale, and whom he knew to be a good swimmer.
"Sergeant," he said, "I want you to join me in an enterprise tonight.
I have found a boat hauled up under the bushes on the opposite
shore, and we must bring her across. I cannot make out her size;
but from the look of her stern I should say she was a large boat.
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