The hanging episode was scarcely history before Nat and I got into another scrape, illustrating the brilliant Forge method of shaping childhood.
The execution of martial enemies being a bit too strenuous, the fertile little Mayo boy hit on “Slave in the Dismal Swamp.” He assured all witnesses that it was capital sport playing “Slave in the Dismal Swamp.”
In all our town, however, there was no colored boy, let alone a small colored boy, available as the slave to escape and be hunted. But that did not hamper the Mayo boy’s ingenuity.
“One of us can black himself and be the slave,” he suggested.
“What with?” I demanded. “Ma won’t let us have any matches to burn cork. Besides, we couldn’t get cork enough anyhow.”
“I know what’s good and black that we can get a lot of,” Benny Mayo promised. “You all come with me and I’ll show you.”
He led us down behind the Mayo barn. Several old carts, hayracks and farm implements were stored there.
“Now then, Nathan, you take off all your clothes and we’ll black you,” Benny directed. “This ain’t goin’ to hurt you. How can it?”
“I won’t do it unless Billy will!” Nathan objected stoutly.
I submitted.