He could scarcely recollect a word of his part, but he remembered the general drift of it, and had ready wit enough to extemporize.

Having explained that he was the only survivor of a shipwrecked crew, he proceeded to tell some of his adventures in foreign lands, and afterwards described part of his experiences in a song, to which the doctor played an accompaniment behind the scenes.

The words were composed by himself, sung to the well-known Scotch air, "Corn Riggs," and ran as follows:-- THE JOLLY TAR.
My comrades, you must know It was many years ago I left my daddy's cottage in the greenwood O! And I jined a man-o'-war An' became a jolly tar, An' fought for king and country on the high seas O! Pull, boys, cheerily, our home is on the sea Pull, boys, merrily and lightly O! Pull, boys, cheerily, the wind is passing free An' whirling up the foam an' water sky-high O! There's been many a noble fight, But Trafalgar was the sight That beat the Greeks and Romans in their glory O! For Britain's jolly sons Worked the thunder-blazing guns, And Nelson stood the bravest in the fore-front O! Pull, boys, etc.
A roaring cannon shot Came an' hit the very spot Where my leg goes click-an'-jumble in the socket O! And swept it overboard With the precious little hoard Of pipe an' tin an' baccy in the pocket O! Pull, boys, etc.
They took me down below, An' they laid me with a row Of killed and wounded messmates on a table O! Then up comes Dr.Keg, An' says, Here's a livin' leg I'll sew upon the stump if I am able O! Pull, boys, etc.
This good and sturdy limb Had belonged to fightin' Tim, An' scarcely had they sewed it on the socket O! When up the hatch I flew, An' dashed among the crew, An' sprang on board the Frenchman like a rocket O! Pull, boys, etc.
'Twas this that gained the day, For that leg it cleared the way-- And the battle raged like fury while it lasted O! Then ceased the shot and shell To fall upon the swell, And the Union Jack went bravely to the mast-head O!' Pull, boys, etc.
We need scarcely say that this song was enthusiastically encored, and that the chorus was done full justice to by the audience, who picked it up at once and sang it with lusty vehemence.

At the last word Ben Bolt nodded familiarly, thrust his hands into his pockets, and swaggered off whistling "Yankee Doodle." It was a matter of uncertainty where he had swaggered off to, but it was conjectured that he had gone on his journey to anywhere that might turn up.
Meanwhile, Blunderbore had been bobbing his head up and down behind the hummock in amazement at what he heard and saw, and when Ben Bolt made his exit he came forward.

This was the signal for the two bears to discover him and rush on with a terrific roar.