_Ned._ No matter, go and do it; and then come back yelling for help.
_Zeke_ (_resuming his coat_). Well, as there doesn’t seem to be any very great danger of a raid, I’ll move along towards the cars. Them chaps want my demijohn pretty bad. (_Phil cries outside, “Help! Help!”_) Halloo! what’s that? (_Enter PHIL, L._)
_Ned._ Swim? not a stroke. What’s the matter?
_Phil._ A little darkey has just fallen into the water there. I tried to reach him with a pole, but failed; and I mustn’t go into the water: my physician said it would be the death of me.
_Zeke._ You cursed fools! is that the way you chatter when a fellow-creature is drowning? Where is he?
_Zeke_ (_throws off his coat_). Of course I can. Where is he, I say?
_Phil._ Right off there: you can see his head just going under for the last time. Do save him!
_Zeke._ I’ll save him if the wool holds. (_Exit ZEKE, L._)
_Phil._ And I’ll save your demijohn! (_Both Phil and Ned rush together to the demijohn._)
_Phil._ Be quick, then; he’ll be back. Let me have the first pull.
_Ned._ No, no: that brilliant idea by which we obtained it was mine.
_Phil._ But I executed it, and nearly executed the darkey at the same time.
_Phil._ Then here goes (_drinks and spits out_). Oh! murder, what stuff! Do you suppose it is poison?
_Ned._ It came from Steve Foster’s. You ought to know the taste of every thing in his place.
_Ned._ No matter, down with it! “Beggars shouldn’t be choosers,” you know.
_Phil._ Here goes (_drinks, and hands the demijohn to Ned_). I’ve given my stomach a surprise-party, I guess.
_Ned._ Ah! “this is the nectar that Jupiter sips” (_drinks, and spits out_). Phew! concentrated essence of all that is horrible! What stuff!
_Ned._ Then here goes! (_Drinks, and then PHIL and NED separate and get in R. and L. corners of the stage, leaving the demijohn in the centre. Enter ZEKE, L. dragging Chick._)
_Zeke._ There, you little specimen of ball-blacking, try and keep out of the water! What sent you there?
_Chick._ Donno, Massa: spec it was a conwulsion.
_Zeke._ Where would you have gone to if I hadn’t pulled you out?
_Chick._ Donno Massa: spec I’d gone to Dixie.
_Zeke._ Well, go and lay down there and dry yourself.
(_Chick goes back, and, during the next dialogue, manages to get at the demijohn, and take a drink._)