return readUnsignedByte() != 0;
  }

  /**
   * Reads a byte from the input stream checking that the end of file (EOF) has not been
   * encountered.
   *
   * @return byte read from input
   * @throws IOException if an error is encountered while reading
   * @throws EOFException if the end of file (EOF) is encountered.
   */
  private byte readAndCheckByte() throws IOException, EOFException {
    int b1 = in.read();