Graspum becomes interested in the fine qualities of the prospective property, and must needs ask if he is bright and trim.

“Bright!  I reckon he warn’t nothin’ else in a money sense-brighter nor most niggers, but mighty Inginy.  Had the fierce of one and the cunnin’ of t’other.  Tom Pridgeon and me has an understandin’ about the thing; and Tom’s such a ripper for tradin’ in nigger property-he is about the only devil niggers can imagine; and they delight to play tricks on Tom.  Well, the nigger and me’s good friends, right to the point; a good trick is to be played off on Tom, who buys the nigger in confidence; the nigger is to run off when he gets to Savannah, and Tom is to be indicted for running off ‘free niggers.’  I’se a great Christian, and joins heart and hand with the darkey; we takes our walks together, reads together, prays together.  And then ’tain’t long afore I becomes just the best white man in his estimation.  Knowing when Tom makes up his gang, I proposes a walk in the grove to the nigger.  ‘Thank ye, sir,’ says he, in an Ingin kind of way, and out we goes, sits down, talks pious, sings hymns, and waits to see the rascally nigger-trader come along.  Presently Tom makes his appearance, with a right smart lot of extra prime property.  The nigger and me marches down the road just like master and servant, and stops just when we meets Tom.  You’d laughed to see Tom and me do the stranger, ‘Well, mister,’ says I, ’how’s trade in your line?-there’s mighty good prices for cotton just now; an’ I ’spose ‘t keeps the market stiff up in your line!’”

‘Well, no,’ says Tom:  ‘a feller can turn a good penny in the way o’ fancy articles, just now; but ’tain’t the time for prime plantation-stock.  Planters are all buying, and breeders down Virginia way won’t give a feller a chance to make a shaving.  It drives a feller hard up, ye see, and forces more business in running the free ‘uns.’

’Why, stranger! what on ’arth do you mean by that ’ar;-wouldn’t ye get straightened if you’d git catched at that business?’

‘Oh, nothing, nothing!  I forgot what I was saying,’ says Tom, just as if he was scared at what he had let slip.

‘I say, trader, ye got the brightest assortment of property thar’ I seen for many a day:  you don’t call them gals slaves, do you?  Down where I cum from, our folks wouldn’t know ’em from white folks.’  I tell you, boys, he had some bits that would o’ made yer heart cum straight up.

’But I say, mister, I kind ’a like yer horse property-somehow he’s full blood,’ says I.

‘Yes,’ says Tom; ‘he’s one o’ the best critturs to drive niggers with that ye ever did see; and he’s beat the best horse on the Columbia course, twice.’

‘Well, now; seein’ how I likes the animal, about how much do ye’h set him at?’ says I.

’Well! can’t part with the nag nohow; seems as if he knowed a nigger, and understands the business right up.’

’But, you see, I’se got a bit of nigger property here what ye’h don’t pick up every day for the Memphis trade,’ says I, looking at the feller, who played his part right up to the hilt.