One day, while Koszta was sitting quietly in the Marina, a public place in Smyrna, he was seized by a number of Greeks, who had been hired to do so by the Austrian consul. They bound him with ropes and carried him on board the Huszar.
It looked bad now for poor Koszta, for he was in the hands of his enemies. It is said that the Archduke John, brother of the Emperor of Austria, was captain of the ship. By his orders iron fetters were riveted on the ankles and wrists of Koszta, and he was locked up in the ship as one who had committed a great crime.
But a piece of great good fortune for the prisoner happened, for the next day the St. Louis, an American sloop-of-war, came sailing into the harbor. Captain Duncan N. Ingraham, who had been a midshipman in the War of 1812, was in command.
He was just the man to be there. He was soon told what had taken place, and that the prisoner claimed to be an American, and he at once sent an officer to the Huszar and asked if he could see Koszta. He was told that he might do so.
Captain Ingraham went to the Austrian ship and had an interview with the prisoner, who told him his story, and said that he had taken the first step to become a citizen of the United States. He begged the captain to protect him.
Captain Ingraham was satisfied that Koszta had a just claim to the protection of the American flag, and asked the Austrians to release him. They refused to do so, and he then wrote to Mr. Brown, the American consul at Constantinople and asked him what he should do.
Before he could get an answer a squadron of Austrian warships, six in number, came gliding into the harbor, and dropped anchor near the Huszar. It looked worse than ever now for poor Koszta, for what could the little St. Louis do against seven big ships? But Captain Ingraham did not let that trouble him. In his mind right was stronger than might, and he was ready to fight ten to one for the honor of his flag.
While he was waiting for an answer from Consul Brown he saw that the Huszar was getting ready to leave the harbor. Her anchor was drawn up and her sails were set. Ingraham made up his mind that if the Huszar left, it would have to be over the wreck of the St. Louis. He spread his sails in a hurry and drove his sloop-of-war right in the track of the Austrian ship. Then he gave orders to his men to make ready for a fight.
When Archduke John saw the gun-ports of the St. Louis open he brought his ship to a standstill and Captain Ingraham went on board.
"What do you intend to do?" he asked.