He had, indeed, but eight or ten cucumbers left.
"Cucumbers to-day, sah?
Bery fine cucumbers--first-rate cucumbers dese." "They look rather over-ripe," Vincent said.
"Not a bit, sah; dey just ripe.

Dis bery fine one--ten cents, dis." "You are putting up your prices, darky, and are making a fortune out of us," Vincent said as he took the cucumber, which was a very large and straight one.

He had no difficulty with this, as with the melon; a sharp twist broke it in two as he reached the corner he had used the day previously.

It had been cut in half, one end had been scooped out for the reception of the handle of the screw-driver and the metal been driven in to the head in the other half.

Hiding it under his jacket, he felt that he was now prepared for escape.
He now asked himself whether he should go alone or take one or more of his comrades into his confidence, and finally determined to give a young Virginian officer named Geary, with whom he had been specially friendly during his imprisonment, and Jackson, a chance of escape.