Act II.

(_Enter Policeman, accompanied by black_ JOE, _the_ DOCTOR'S _servant._)

JOE.--Yes sah, I know him--he can't fool dis child: (_looking about him he espies_ PUNCH) dah he--dah he is! Dat him--dat's ole PUNCH.

PUNCH.--Here's a pretty brace of ducks. (_The Policeman at the sight of_ PUNCH'S _stick, sneaks off unseen by the negro, leaving poor_ JOE _all alone with_ PUNCH.)

JOE.--I ain't no duck.

PUNCH.--I am going to eat a live _nigger_ raw.

JOE.--Moses in de mountain--you don't catch dis child. (_Exit_ JOE. PUNCH _lies down on the stage and while watching for the darkie falls asleep._ JOE _slily crawls up to him and plants a fearful blow on the right side of_ PUNCH'S _head; and suddenly dodges out of sight._ PUNCH, _springs up but too late to get a sight of his enemy, he conceals himself behind the scenes and remains on watch._ JOE _slily crawls up to his side of the stage and conceals himself behind the curtains. But_ PUNCH _sees him and crawling over unseen, on his hands and knees, to_ JOE'S _corner, returns for his club--as before--returns and hits the negro an awful blow and flies to his own corner._)

JOE.--You nasty ole turkey nose--I'll catch you yet--I'll put hot lead in your ear. (JOE _hides behind the curtain._)

(PUNCH _crawls over to_ JOE'S _side again and deals him two blows in rapid succession._ JOE _falls down and_ PUNCH, _supposing the fellow to be dead, throws him over the stage; and then sings,_

Oh, lay me in my little bed. (_Exit_ PUNCH.)

(_Enter_ BLIND MAN: _at the same time an_ IRISHMAN _from the opposite side of the stage._)

IRISHMAN.--Is your name PUNCH?

BLIND MAN.--No, I am blind.

IRISH.--Sure, and how should I know that? troth I would rather see than be blind--it is an unlucky counthry--this that makes a man go blind before he gets hungry--bad luck to the day I left Ireland. (_Exit_ IRISHMAN.)

(_Enter_ PUNCH.) PUNCH.--Ah, is that you BLINDY. Where are you from last?

BLIND MAN.--From beyond the sea.

PUNCH.--Old man, you used to be good at jumping once, how is it now?

B. M.--I was something of a jumper in my day.

PUNCH.--(_Leading him to an old well._) Now, here is a level place, let me see how far you can jump--there's a half a dollar for you.

(B. M. _gets ready, makes a jump and lands at the bottom of the well._)

B. M.--Help--help, help me out, I am blind!

PUNCH.--Stick to it old fellow--keep the thing going and I will go for assistance. (_He starts off, singing._)

"Down in the coalmines underneath the ground, Where a gleam of sun-shine never can be found, Digging dusty diamonds all the season round: Down in the coalmines underneath the ground."

(_Exit_ PUNCH. _End of Act II._)