Casks of both, with heads knocked out, were at the service of all.

In bags which we made for the purpose, a sufficiency of the biscuit was readily stored away, and secreted in a corner of easy access.

The salt beef was more difficult to obtain; but, little by little, we managed to smuggle out of the cask enough to answer our purpose.
As for water, most luckily a day or two previous several "breakers" of it had been hoisted from below for the present use of the ship's company.
These "breakers" are casks, long and slender, but very strong.

Of various diameters, they are made on purpose to stow into spaces intervening between the immense butts in a ship's hold.
The largest we could find was selected, first carefully examining it to detect any leak.

On some pretense or other, we then rolled them all over to that side of the vessel where our boat was suspended, the selected breaker being placed in their middle.
Our compendious wardrobes were snugly packed into bundles and laid aside for the present.