At last he said, cautiously: "Ye noticed them bits o' flannin' round the chillern's throats ?" I remembered that I had, but was uncertain whether it was intended as a preventive of cold or a child's idea of decoration.

I nodded.
"That's their trouble.

One night, when old Johnson had been off for three days to Coulterville, I was prowling round here and I didn't git to see no one, though there was a light burnin' in the shanty all night.
The next night I was here again,--the same light twinklin', but no one about.

I reckoned that was mighty queer, and I jess crep' up to the house an' listened.

I heard suthin' like a little cough oncet in a while, and at times suthin' like a little moan.