[The little man rises, holding out the baby, and advances a step or two.  The half-moon at once gives, increasing its size; the American climbs on to a higher trunk.  The little man retires and again sits down.]

American. [Addressing the official] Guess you’d better go out of business and wait for the mother.

Official. [Stamping his foot] Die Mutter sall ’rested be for taking out baby mit typhus.  Ha! [To the little man] Put ze baby down!

     [The little man smiles.]

Do you ’ear?

American. [Addressing the official] Now, see here.  ’Pears to me you don’t suspicion just how beautiful this is.  Here we have a man giving his life for that old baby that’s got no claim on him.  This is not a baby of his own making.  No, sir, this is a very Christ-like proposition in the gentleman.

Official.  Put ze baby down, or ich will goummand someone it to do.

American.  That will be very interesting to watch.

Official. [To policeman] Dake it vrom him.

     [The policeman mutters, but does not.]

American. [To the German] Guess I lost that.

German.  He say he is not his officier.

American.  That just tickles me to death.

Official. [Looking round] Vill nobody dake ze Bub’?

ENGLISHWOMAN. [Moving a step faintly] Yes—­I——­

Englishman. [Grasping her arm].  By Jove!  Will you!

Official. [Gathering himself for a great effort to take the baby, and advancing two steps] Zen I goummand you—­[He stops and his voice dies away] Zit dere!

American.  My!  That’s wonderful.  What a man this is!  What a sublime sense of duty!

     [The Dutch youth laughs.  The official turns on him, but as he
     does so the mother of the Busy is seen hurrying.]

Mother.  ‘Ach!  Ach!  Mei’ Bubi’!

     [Her face is illumined; she is about to rush to the little man.]

Official. [To the policeman] ‘Nimm die Frau’!

     [The policeman catches hold of the woman.]

Official. [To the frightened woman] ’Warum haben Sie einen Buben mit Typhus mit ausgebracht’?

American. [Eagerly, from his perch] What was that?  I don’t want to miss any.

German.  He say:  Why did you a baby with typhus with you bring out?

American.  Well, that’s quite a question.

     [He takes out the field-glasses slung around him and adjusts
     them on the baby.]

Mother. [Bewildered] Mei’ Bubi—­Typhus—­aber Typhus? [She shakes her head violently] ‘Nein, nein, nein!  Typhus’!