The British captain had seen the whole affair from the deck of the frigate, and he was in a fury. He got into a boat and had himself rowed over to the “Siren.” When he came on board, he saw MacDonough walking quietly up and down the deck, with his hands clasped behind him. The captain marched up to him insolently. “Where is that man you took? I must have him back,” he cried. “I will not give him up,” answered MacDonough quietly. “You dare to tell me that? Why you are not even the captain of this vessel, and you dare to say you will not let me have the man?” “I will answer to it to my captain,” said MacDonough, “and I will not give him up.” The captain raged and threatened to turn the frigate’s guns against the “Siren” and blow it out of the water. “You can do it, no doubt, if you choose,” answered MacDonough, “but as long as this boat is afloat I will never give that man up.” The captain finding he could gain nothing, got into his boat again and had himself rowed over toward the merchant vessel. MacDonough feared he might try to kidnap another man, so he entered the cutter and followed close after the British boat. The Englishmen rowed about for some time and then finding they could not shake him off they returned to the frigate. Then, and not till then, MacDonough went back to the “Siren.” The English officers one and all admired MacDonough’s conduct in this affair, and always afterward spoke of him with great admiration. But it was in the battle of Lake Champlain that MacDonough won his greatest fame. Our troubles with England had finally ended in a war with her. MacDonough was put in command of the naval forces on Lake Champlain. He was then a little over thirty years old. The battle was fought on a clear, bright September morning, in 1814. Before the battle began the Commodore (as MacDonough was then called) knelt on the deck of the “Saratoga,” and with his officers and crew about him, he prayed for success in the conflict. When a little later they were clearing the decks of the “Saratoga” for action, they let out some chickens that were in coops, and threw the coops overboard. One of the cocks flew up on the rigging and flapped his wings and crowed loud and long. It was as if he recognized in the Commodore one of the “Blue Hen’s Chickens,” and was greeting him. The sailors took his crowing as a sign of victory, and cheered in answer to him. The American ships were scarcely set in battle order, before the British squadron came sailing proudly around a wooded point of land. The red flags at their mast-heads fluttered gaily in the sunlight.