A little later the captain of the frigate came on board the _Siren_ in a great rage. He had plainly tried to impress the Yankee, not because one man would be of any consequence as an addition to his crew, but to show his contempt for the little Yankee war-ship, and to be baulked so was a terrible affront. He wanted to know how Macdonough “dared to take a man from one of His Majesty’s boats.” Macdonough, in no way flustrated, invited the captain into the _Siren’s_ cabin: The Captain refused to go and “with abundance of threats” repeated his question. He was determined, he said, that he would haul his frigate alongside the _Siren_ and take the man by force. To this Macdonough replied: “I suppose your ship can sink the _Siren_, but as long as she can swim I shall keep the man.” “You are a very young man and a very indiscreet young man,” said the bully. “Suppose I had been in the boat--what would you have done?” “I would have taken the man or lost my life,” replied Macdonough. “What, sir! Would you attempt to stop me if I were now to try to impress men from that brig?” thundered the captain. “I would,” replied the calm Macdonough, “and to convince yourself that I would, you have only to make the attempt.” At that the British captain got into his boat, rowed away to his frigate and then turned and rowed toward the Yankee merchantman. Macdonough at once called away his boat with an armed crew, and rowed out to protect the brig, whereat the bold Englishman rowed around the merchantman without boarding her, and with his rudder tucked well under his stern, so to speak, put back to his frigate. [Illustration: Medal Awarded to Thomas Macdonough after His Victory on Lake Champlain.]