He looked around for clothes first, but there were none to be found.
Stripping the cot, he leaned it up against the wall under the trap door and climbed upon it.
He could now reach the trap and had some room to spare. Pushing on it, the door arose and fell back with noise enough to startle any one within hearing.
But evidently there was no one, for nothing happened.
Ed waited several minutes, and at last feeling himself safe, he caught hold and pulled himself up through the opening.
He found himself now in a dark narrow passage so low that he could not stand upright.
The lantern was needed. Why had he forgotten that?
It was necessary to get down on top of the cot again.
Ed made the descent, reached for the lantern, got it and returned.
"I suppose if I do succeed in reaching the street I shall be arrested," he said to himself, "but I don't care. Anything is better than being held a prisoner by these horrible Chinese."