In consequence of the limited area of the cabin floor they are not far removed from each other.

Upon a little three-legged stool, between them, burns a dim rush candle, whose light is so exceedingly feeble that it casts ghastly and death-like shadows over the whole inside of the cabin.

That family consists of nine persons, of whom five are lying ill of fever, as the reader, from the nature of their bedding, may have already anticipated--for we must observe here, that the epidemic was rife at the time.

Food of any description has not been under that roof for more than twenty-four hours.

They are all in bed but one.