“The little cock thinks he could fight!” they sneered, but the British commander looked sternly at Dick as he spoke to him.
“There is too much of this idle boasting in the farmer army. I would put an end to it.”
He motioned to an English lad, the boatswain’s boy, older and more toughly built than Dick.
“Fight!” the officer commanded. “Let the Yankee fight one of King George’s men!”
The two lads went at each other, rough and tumble. It was hardly a fair fight. The English lad hit right and left with iron fists and Dick tried to parry the blows, weak from his long marches and fasting. Dick’s spirit and his courage were stronger than those of the other lad, though. First one would be on top and then the other while the British officers and Dick’s own men shouted,
“Down with the enemy of the King!” or, “Down with King George!”
It was one of the strangest and most memorable fights of the whole war for independence because both lads felt that more than their personal prowess was at stake. Dick fell under his assailant’s blows many times but each time he struggled to his feet, caught his breath, and struck back again.
“Enough!” the English lad cried at last and this battle, like so many others, was a victory for the Colonies.
There was scant mercy showed by the British in those days but one could not help but admire the pluck of the youngest soldier of the regiment. The officer whose prisoner he was called Dick to him and patted him on his curly head.
“A brave little cock indeed!” he said. “As a reward for your good fighting, how would you like to have me give you your freedom?” he asked.