Bayard and his black slave and sidekick, Ringo, are twelve years old when we are first introduced to them in William Faulkner's The Unvanquished. Ringo (Marengo) grandson of Joby, is born a slave on John Sartoris' plantation. He and Bayard nursed from the same slave's breast and become constant companions: "Ringo and I had been born in the same month," Bayard says, "and had both fed at the same breast and had slept together and eaten together for so long that Ringo called Granny 'Granny' just like I did, until maybe he wasn't a nigger anymore or maybe I wasn't a white boy anymore, the two of us neither, not even people any longer" (7). Ringer serves as Bayard's faithful companion.

Certain narrative passages of The Unvanquished attempt to show Bayard and Ringo engaged in a competition as equals. Though Ringo never flaunts...