In August of 1904, Forrest Mayfield, after walking fourteen miles in search of a healing spring at the Panacea Springs to remedy what he thinks is pneumonia, happens upon an old Black freedman who warns him that drinking from those tainted waters would surely kill him. After the freedman inquires as to who Forrest is and why he’s really come to the land, the freedman offers him dinner wherein he again asks about Forrests real reason for visiting the springs. Forrest shares that he and woman made a promise to each other at the site of the springs years ago and that he was returning to come and see it again.  Forrest asks what the freedman was doing there and he shares that his name is Gid, born Bankey Patterson into slavery on the very land they stood on, owned by an aristocratic family— “the Fittses.” Bankey furthers that his master originally intended to sale him off, but at the request of his mother, the house’s chef and the master’s mistress, he was allowed to stay. He remarks that after he was freed, he traveled up North to find work, but was unlucky and came back down South, fathering a few sets of children along the way, returning to find his mother. After dinner, Bankey invites Forrest to stay in the house near the springs. While asleep, Forrest dreams that he’s at a boarding house and that while at dinner, he sits across from a man identified by the manageress as Mr. Mayfield. He studies the man, observing his familiarity, and calls out to his father, “Robinson. Father. Robinson Mayfield.” Robinson cryptically responds, “Maybe so… I am too tired to say.” As Forrest sleeps, Bankey, unable to sleep, watches him, paying very close attention to his shallow breathing. Bankey grabs Forrest’s hand and, sensing that he is troubled, lies beside him.  The next morning, they wake up and Bankey says that he’s following Forrest wherever. Forrest reminds Bankey of his quest to find his mother and Bankey shares that his mother had gone crazy and that Mrs. Fitts gave him the land they’re on, but that its worthless to him. Forrest refuses Bankey’s offer, remarking that he’d been inspired to go find his father.