Treading cautiously and lightly, they traversed the hall and descended to the second floor.
Here Barney paused before a closed door and listened intently.
Then, after a rapid signal to Jake, he put out the light and turned the knob.
The door was locked on the inside.
Once more he had recourse to his nippers, and speedily the door was opened.
Evidently Barney knew exactly where the door to the inner room was situated; for, without the slightest hesitation, he started across the sleeping-apartment in a diagonal direction.
Jake essayed to follow him, but mistaking the course, brought up against the foot of the bed, which he struck with such force as to startle the sleepers from their dreams, and cause a red-hot oath to burst from his own lips.
"Who's there?" came in a stern and determined voice from the bed. "Speak! or by the great Eternal! I'll fire!"