"To sail for home," said the Austrian. "Our consul orders us to take our prisoner to Austria."
"You must pardon me," said Captain Ingraham, "but if you try to leave this port with that American I shall be compelled to resort to extreme measures."
That was a polite way of saying that Koszta should not be taken away if he could prevent it.
The Austrian looked at the six ships of his nation that lay near him. Then he looked at the one American ship. Then a pleasant smile came on his face.
"I fear I shall have to go on, whether it is to your liking or not," he said, in a very polite tone.
Captain Ingraham made no answer. He bowed to the Archduke and then descended into his boat and returned to the St. Louis.
"Clear the ship for action!" he ordered. The tars sprang to their stations, the ports were opened, and the guns thrust out. There was many a grim face behind them.
The Archduke stared when he saw these black-mouthed guns. He was in the wrong and he knew it. And he saw that the American meant business. He could soon settle the little St. Louis with his seven ships. But the great United States was behind that one ship, and war might be behind all that.
So the Archduke took the wisest course, turned his ship about, and sailed back. Then he sent word to Ingraham that he would wait till Consul Brown's answer came.
The Consul's reply came on July 1. It said that Captain Ingraham had done just right, and advised him to go on and stand for the honor of his country.