A significant shaking of the little curtain at the foot of the berth showed that it was being used as a scaling-ladder.

I lay perfectly still, quite as much interested in the sport as if I had been waiting, rifle in hand, for big game.

Soon the intruder peeped into my berth, looked cautiously around him, and then proceeded to walk stealthily across my feet.

In an instant he was shot upwards.

First was heard a sharp knock on the ceiling, and then a dull "thud" on the floor.
The precise extent of the injuries inflicted I never discovered, for the victim had sufficient strength and presence of mind to effect his escape; and the gentleman at the other side of the cabin, who had been roused by the noise, protested against my repeating the experiment, on the ground that, though he was willing to take his own share of the intruders, he strongly objected to having other people's rats kicked into his berth.
On such occasions it is of no use to complain to the authorities.