Punch.—Mind, who you call fool: try if you can do it yourself: only show me how it can be done—old pestilence and I'll try.
J. K.—Very well; I will, you see my head and you see this loop. Put it in, so. (Putting his head through the noose.)
Punch.—And pull it tight, so! (He pulls the body forcibly down, and hangs Jack Ketch.) Huzza! huzza! (Punch takes down the corpse and places it in the coffin. Enter two men who remove the gallows and then carry away the coffin containing the body of Jack Ketch and exit.)
Punch.—There they go; they think they have got me in that coffin. (He sings)
Let the wild world wag as it will
I'll be merry merry still.
Jack Ketch is dead and I am free
I don't care if old Nick himself should come for me.
(During his singing he beats time with his stick.)
I am the man to manage them all,
Here's a stick to thump old Nick,
If ever he pays me a call.
(Enter the Devil. Peeps in at the corner, and exit.)
Punch.—(Much frightened, and retreating as far as he can.) Oh dear! oh Lord! What is that? That's old Nick, sure enough. (The Devil comes forward. Punch stands on the defensive.)
Punch.—Keep off, Mr. Devil. (The Devil advances) Look out for your eyes. (The Devil darts at Punch, who escapes and aims a blow at him: the Devil eludes it, as well as many other blows which Punch aims at him, laying his head on the platform, and slipping it rapidly backward and forward, so that Punch instead of striking him, only repeatedly hits the boards. Exit Devil.)