They were to keep their lights up, so that Frank could make them out as they came up, and put off to meet them.
George Lechmere saw to the preparations for victualling the gig.
Two large hampers of fresh provisions were placed on board, and two four-and-a-half gallon kegs of water.

A bundle of rugs was placed in the stern sheets, and the boat's flagstaff was fixed in its place in the stern.

The yard of the sail was at night to be lashed from the mast to the staff at a height of four feet above the gunwale, and across this the sail was to be thrown to act as a tent.

A kettle, frying pan, plates, knives and forks were put in forward, and a box of signal lights under the seat aft.

Canisters of tea, sugar, coffee, and all necessaries had been stowed away in the hamper, together with a plentiful supply of tobacco; and a bag of twenty-eight pounds of flour, wrapped up in tarpaulin, was placed under one of the thwarts.
As soon as it was daylight, anchor was got up, and when the yacht had sailed for seven or eight miles to the west, the gig was lowered, and the four black boatmen took their places in her.