A leakage is out of the question, unless by any accident one should fall off the pile and burst; but such a thing has never happened, as far as I know." "I see, by your book, that there should be three thousand four hundred and eighty-two barrels, each containing five hundred cartridges.

Certainly an ample supply, even for a prolonged siege." The barrels were piled in four tiers, one above another, forming a wall on each side of a central path, seven feet wide.
"Give me your hand, Mike," Desmond said to his follower, and, standing upon it, he was able to scramble on to the top.
"Twelve barrels deep," he said, as he descended.

"Now, let us count the number in each line." The wall of barrels extended only some two-thirds of the length of the stores, and there were thirty barrels in each line.

He made a rapid calculation.
"That is three thousand two hundred, but I see that, in addition, there is a small pile on each side, beyond the others, which would about make up the correct total.

Your record is strictly accurate." The official took up the lantern, as if the matter was now finished, but Desmond said: "No, sir.