I first found Simmons, the carpenter's mate, and Henderson, a quartermaster, and informing them of the Captain's arrangement, desired them to pick out the best ten men they could lay hands upon, arm them, and get them into the cutter with their bags and hammocks, and then make their own preparations,--by which time Gascoigne and I would be ready,-- then I bundled below, found Gascoigne, and set to work to get my own chest and bedding ready.
