Punch.—He, he, he! (laughing.) He is off: He who runs away will live to fight another day.
(A noise in the background is heard.)
(Punch alarmed by hearing a strange, whirring noise, like that made by a spinning-wheel, retreats to the corner of the stage.)
(Re-enter the Devil, with a stick. He makes up to Punch, who retreats round the back of the stage, and they stand eyeing one another and fensing at opposite sides. At last the Devil makes a blow at Punch which tells on the back of his head.)
Punch.—Take care of my head! What is that for? Old boy, can't we be friends. (The Devil hits him again. Punch now begins to be angry.) Well, if you won't be a friend, we will be enemies, now, old Devil. I take the chances in this contest, your head or mine, we must try which is the best man Punch or the Devil.
(Here commences a terrific combat between the Devil and Punch.Compared with which the fight between the French and the Prussians, if you leave out the guns, was more than boy play. In the beginning, Punch has much the worst of it; but, at length succeeds in planting several heavy blows in the small of the Devil's back. This weakens the old Father of evil, and towards the conclusion Punch drives his enemy before him. The Devil stunned by repeated blows, falls down, when Punch kills him; and putting him on his shoulder carries him round, exclaiming,) Huzza! huzza! the Devil's dead.
