He was no better armed than myself, and he possessed no advantage in that darkness, except his knowledge of surroundings.

I straightened up, and advanced slowly, testing the wall with my hand, every muscle stiffened for action, listening for the slightest sound.

I encountered nothing, heard nothing, until my groping fingers touched the rough plank of a sleeping berth.

I explored this cautiously, lifting the edge of a coarse blanket, and reaching up to make sure the one above was also unoccupied.

Satisfied that both were empty I worked my way blindly along to the second tier.