As soon as he stepped on deck he was made a prisoner and sent below.
Captain Jones reasoned that the captain of the _Drake_ would miss his officer after awhile and come out to learn what had become of him.

He, therefore, headed toward the North Channel, the _Drake_ following, with the tide against her and the wind unfavorable until the mid-channel was reached, when, to quote Maclay, Paul Jones "in plain view of three kingdoms, hove to, ran up the flag of the new Republic and awaited the enemy." In reply to the demand of the _Drake's_ captain, Jones gave the name of his vessel and expressed the pleasure it would give him to engage him in battle.

The American was astern of the _Drake_, and, to show his earnestness, Captain Jones ordered his helm put up and let fly with a broadside.

The _Drake_ replied and then the battle was on.

There was little manoeuvring, the contest being what is known as a square yardarm and yardarm fight.
The comparative strength of the two vessels was as follows: The _Ranger_ carried 18 guns and 123 men, the _Drake_ 20 guns and 160 men, a number of the latter being volunteers for the fight, which lasted one hour and four minutes, at the end of which time the _Ranger_ had lost two killed and six wounded and the _Drake_ forty-two killed.