He could hear two snorers who seemed to be competing with each other to see who could make the most noise.
If the berths were all occupied, three snorers were not a very great proportion in forty-eight.

He was very anxious to ascertain if this was the number of soldiers in the place, but it was too dark in the shanty for him to determine whether or not the bunks were all in use.

It was too many for him to encounter with his force of twenty men and three officers in the open field.
Christy returned to the end of the building, and tried the door.

It was not locked, and he decided to make use of a little of the audacity of which he was accused of having a good deal.

Taking off his shoes, and passing his sword to Mr.Amblen, he entered the barrack on tiptoe.
The boards of the floor began to creak under his weight; he stooped down and felt till he found the nail holes; then he knew that he was on a timber, and he walked the whole length of the shanty, returning on the opposite side, counting the occupied berths, for he passed within three feet of all of them.