“What is the rope for?”, inquired a bystander.
“To hang a man with,” was his reply.
The listeners understood this as a joke, and dismissed the subject with a laugh.
Hynson next employed a negro to go out and dig a grave near the tripod.
“Who’s dead, Massa Hynson?” inquired the man.
“Never you mind,” replied Hynson. “Go ahead and dig the grave. I’ll furnish the corpse.”
The negro obeyed, and the grave was in readiness at nightfall.
The next morning the lifeless body of Hynson was found suspended from the tripod by the rope he had prepared.
The citizens flocked in crowds to the spot. Among them was the negro who dug the grave. When he saw the swaying form, and had scrutinized the ghastly face, he exclaimed,
“’Fore God, dat’s de gemman dat tole me to dig de grave, and said he’d furnish de corpse.”