Forced to surrender his ship, the Sutherland, Captain Horatio Hornblower now bides his time as a prisoner awaiting transport to Paris and a trial on trumped up charges. Napoleon had charged Hornblower with piracy, and the prisoner, his first mate, and his servant are escorted toward Paris. After escaping with his first lieutenant Bush, and his coxswain Brown, they find refuge in France. Later, the three again make their way down the Loire river and upon reaching the sea find a means to escape to England where Hornblower's life becomes more than he ever expected.