about twelve to fourteen
`` Very true , '' responded Roger . `` I do not believe that the skipper will give up looking for us while his ships hold together ; but , as you say , it may be a long time before we are rescued , so it is as well to secure everything we can lay our hands on . Meanwhile , let us take the barrel up to the huts and open it , and see if the contents are what we hope them to be , and whether they have been reached by the sea-water , and spoiled , or not . '' Then , each taking an end of the barrel -- which was one of those small casks called breakers , holding about twelve to fourteen gallons , and therefore very weighty , -- they carried it up to the hut , where they found Bevan just returned with the remainder of the turtle 's eggs . Irwin at once set to work to remove the bung of the cask , while Roger went into the hut and fetched out the only small vessel belonging to the little community , a wooden mug capable of holding somewhere about a pint and a half . A few moments more and Irwin said : `` Ready , Master Trevose ? '' `` Yes , '' replied the lad .