Page:William Wells Brown - The Escape Or, A Leap for Freedom; a Drama in Five Acts.pdf/21

 skin! ef I don't pay you for this, you brack cuss! [They fight, and turn over table, chairs and bench—Pete and Ned look on. Enter,   Dr. G. Why, dear me, what's the matter? What's all this about? I'll teach you a lesson, that I will. [The doctor goes at them with his cane.

Cato. Oh, massa! he's to blame, sir. He's to blame. He struck me fuss.

Bill. No, sir; he's to blame; he pull de wrong toof. Oh, my toof! oh, my toof!

Dr. G. Let me see your tooth. Open your mouth. As I live, you've taken out the wrong tooth. I am amazed. I'll whip you for this; I'll whip you well. You're a pretty doctor. Now lie down, Bill, and let him take out the right tooth; and if he makes a mistake this time, I'll cowhide him well. Lie down, Bill. [''Bill lies down, and Cato pulls the tooth.''] There now, why didn't you do that in the first place?

Cato. He wouldn't hole still, sir.

Bill. He lies, sir. I did hole still.

Dr. G. Now go home, boys; go home.

[Exit, and ,

Dr. G. You've made a pretty muss of it, in my absence. Look at the table! Never mind, Cato; I'll whip you well for this conduct of yours to-day. Go to work now, and clear up the office. [Exit ,

Cato. Confound dat nigger! I wish he was in Ginny. He bite my finger and scratch my face. But didn't I give it to him? Well, den, I reckon I did. [''He goes to the mirror, and discovers that his coat is torn—weeps.''] Oh, dear me! Oh, my coat—my coat is tore! Dat nigger has tore my coat. [He gets angry, and rushes about the room frantic.] Cuss dat nigger! Ef I could lay my hands on him, I'd tare him all to pieces,—dat I would. An' de ole boss hit me wid his cane after dat nigger tore my coat. By golly, I wants to fight somebody, Ef ole massa should come in now, I'd fight him. [Rolls up his sleeves.] Let 'em come now, ef dey dare—ole massa, or any body else; I'm ready for 'em.