 17-year-old Horatio Horblower is a new midshipman on the Justinian. He starts out seasick, and things go from bad to worse for him when senior Midshipman Simpson targets him for abuse until Horatio becomes suicidally-minded, and when Simpson accuses him of cheating at cards, Hornblower challenges him to a duel. But Clayton knocks Hornblower out, takes his place in the duel, and is shot. Before Horatio can do anything, war is declared, and he is transferred to the Indefatigable under Captain Pellew. Horatio gradually earns a place on his new ship and the respect of the men under his command, and Pellew even trusts him with a prize command. But when Simpson reappears, and Horatio is given a dangerous assignment with Simpson at his back, will he survive?