Hornblower is now a member of the crew under Captain Pellew on HMS Indefatigable, and Britain is at war. Trying to study for the forthcoming examination to become a Lieutenant, Hornblower must face deadly problems and come through with his life - if he can.

Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower is sailing home in a captured ship, La Rêve, carrying secret papers and escorting a duchess, when they themselves are taken prisoner by the Spanish. How can he escape with his top secret charge, the other prisoners, and above all, a duchess whose behaviour is becoming increasingly suspicious?

When Hornblower is charged with taking some British Redcoats and French nationalists over the English Channel to assist in the fightback against the French Revolution, he is overcome with horror at the brutality of their behaviour, and must defend the honour of a young French woman.

With Sawyer dead, Buckland takes control of the ship, but he is not up to the task, and decides to sail to Jamaica, despite the failure of the mission to capture the Spanish fort on Samana Bay. Hornblower suggests another plan of attack which goes well, although Buckland takes all the credit for the raid's success. But the Spanish capitulation isn't all it seems, and Hornblower will have to come to Buckland's rescue once more before they reach Jamaica.