When pushed down to their full length, they touched the interior of the cannon below, and were just level with the top of the touch hole.

Thus, it would be next to impossible to extricate them in a hurry.

They might, indeed, be broken and forced in by a solid punch, of the same size as the touch hole; but this would take time, and would not be likely to occur, on the moment, to the pirates.
The skewers, for this is what they resembled, were very strong and tough; being made of slips of bamboo.

The prisoners had all knives, which they used for cutting their food.

With these the work was accomplished.
Towards morning the five natives, with the skewers hidden away in their loincloths, and their turbans twisted in Mahratta fashion, stole out from the casemate.