huh clim big pole right in a middle o' the church, what
was to hol' roof up. He clim way high up, an' holler: 'Goin' to heavum,
goin' to heavum, goin' to heavum NOW. Hallelujah, praise my Lawd!' An'
he slide down little, an' holler: 'Devil's got a hol' o' my coat-tails;
devil tryin' to drag me down! Sinnuhs, take wawnun! Devil got a hol' o'
my coat-tails; I'm a-goin' to hell, oh Lawd!' Nex', he clim up little
mo', an' yell an' holler: 'Done shuck ole devil loose; goin' straight to
heavum agin! Goin' to heavum, goin' to heavum, my Lawd!' Nex', he slide
down some mo' an' holler, 'Leggo my coat-tails, ole devil! Goin' to
hell agin, sinnuhs! Goin' straight to hell, my Lawd!' An' he clim an' he
slide, an' he slide, an' he clim, an' all time holler: 'Now 'm a-goin'
to heavum; now 'm a-goin' to hell! Goin'to heavum, heavum, heavum, my
Lawd!' Las' he slide all a-way down, jes' a-squallin' an' a-kickin' an'
a-rarin' up an' squealin', 'Goin' to hell. Goin' to hell! Ole Satum got
my soul! Goin' to hell! Goin' to hell! Goin' to hell, hell, hell!"

Herman possessed that extraordinary facility for vivid acting which is
the great native gift of his race, and he enchained his listeners. They
sat fascinated and spellbound.

"Herman, tell that again!" said Penrod, breathlessly.

Herman, nothing loath, accepted the encore and repeated the Miltonic
episode, expanding it somewhat, and dwelling with a fine art upon those
portions of the narrative which he perceived to be most exciting to his
audience. Plainly, they thrilled less to Paradise gained than to its
losing, and the dreadful climax of the descent into the Pit was the
greatest treat of all.

The effect was immense and instant. Penrod sprang to his feet.

"Georgie Bassett couldn't do that to save his life," he declared. "_I_'m
goin' to be a preacher! I'D be all right for one, wouldn't I, Herman?"

"So am I!" Sam Williams echoed loudly. "I guess I can do it if YOU can.
I'd be better'n Penrod, wouldn't I, Herman?"

"I am, too!" Maurice shouted. "I got a stronger voice than anybody here,
and I'd like to know what----"

The three clamoured together indistinguishably, each asserting his
qualifications for the ministry according to Herman's theory, which had
been accepted by these sudden converts without question.

"Listen to ME!" Maurice bellowed, proving his claim to at least the
voice by drowning the others. "Maybe I can't climb a pole so good, but
who can holler louder'n this?