The boy was brought into the cabin. He was pale and slender, and about thirteen years of age. Abashed by the presence of great officers, with their glittering uniforms, he timidly approached, when the Admiral, seeing his embarrassment, spoke kindly to him, and asked him to sing a song.
"I can't sing any but Yankee songs," said the trembling boy.
"Come, my little fellow, don't be afraid," said the Admiral. "Sing one of your Yankee songs--any one you can recollect."
The boy still hesitated, when the brutal Prescott, who was a stranger to the lad, roared out,
"Give us a song, you little rebel, or I'll give you a dozen lashes."
This cruel salutation was innocently met most severely by the child, when, encouraged by kind words from the Admiral, he sang, with a sweet voice and modest manner, the following ballad, composed by a sailor of Newport:
"Twas on a dark and stormy night-- The wind and waves did roar-- Bold Barton then, with twenty men, Went down upon the shore.
"And in a whale-boat they set off To Rhode Island fair, To catch a redcoat General Who then resided there.
"Through British fleets and guard-boats strong They held their dangerous way, Till they arrived unto their port, And then did not delay.
"A tawny son of Afric's race Them through the ravine led, And entering then the Overing house, They found him in his bed.
"But to get in they had no means Except poor Cuffee's head, Who beat the door down, then rushed in, And seized him in his bed.
"Stop! let me put my clothing on!" The General then did pray; 'Your clothing, massa, I will take; For dress we can not stay.'
"Then through rye stubble him they led, With shoes and clothing none, And placed him in their boat quite snug, And from the shore were gone.
"Soon the alarm was sounded loud: 'The Yankees they have come, And stolen Prescott from his bed, And him have carried hum.'
"The drums were beat, sky-rockets flew, The soldiers shouldered arms, And marched around the grounds they knew, Filled with most dire alarms.
"But through the fleet with muffled oars They held their devious way, And landed him on 'Gansett shores, Where Britons held no sway.
"When unto land the captors came, Where rescue there was none, 'A bold push this,' the General cried; 'Of prisoners I am one.'"