1 c Sugar

1/4 c Fresh mint leaves, snipped

2 T Fresh lemon or lime juice

1/4 c Dark rum

10 c Cantaloupe balls (about 3 cantaloupes)

2 c Honeydew melon balls

2 c Watermelon balls

Fresh mint sprigs

Combine sugar and mint leaves with 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves; simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and pour through a strainer, discard mint. Stir in lemon or lime juice and rum. Cool. Combine cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon with cooled mint-rum syrup. Chill several hours or overnight. To serve, spoon fruit into dessert dishes and garnish with sprigs of mint.