Third book written about Hornblower; Volume 8 in the Horlblower saga. Forced to surrender his ship, the Sutherland, after a long and bloody battle, Captain Horatio Hornblower now bides his time as a prisoner awaiting transport to Paris and a trial on trumped up charges. 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.