As soon as the negro saw that his master's eye had fallen upon him he began loudly praising the quality of his fruit.
"Here, massa officer, here bery fine melyons, ripe and sweet; no green trash; dis un good right through.

Five cents each, sah.

Bery cheap, dese." "I expect they cost you nothing, Sambo," one of the Confederate soldiers said as he bought a melon.

"Got a neighbor's patch handy, eh ?" Dan grinned at the joke, and then selecting another from the bottom of his pile in the basket, offered it to Vincent.
"Dis fine fruit, sah.

Me sure you please with him!" Vincent took the melon and handed Dan five cents.