Mutiny

In 1802, Horatio Hornblower is imprisoned in Kingston, Jamaica on a charge of mutiny. During a visit to his cell, he explains the circumstances to Commodore Sir Edward Pellew, setting up the frame for the story to come.

A six-month flashback follows Hornblower's service as third lieutenant aboard HMS Renown, under Captain James Sawyer. Sawyer is a celebrated war hero but his erratic leadership and distrust of his officers sow tension aboard the ship. The senior lieutenants are Buckland, Bush, and Kennedy.

Renown is ordered to Santo Domingo to curb Spanish privateers threatening British trade in the West Indies. The mission unfolds amid a slave rebellion and fragile loyalties among the crew, testing leadership and discipline.

Sawyer targets Midshipman Wellard and punishes Hornblower by extending his watch to 36 hours for defending Wellard. The captain also grants the crew an extra ration of rum, leaving them sluggish just as two French frigates appear on the horizon.

That night, Wellard is flogged into unconsciousness under Sawyer's orders as Hornblower looks on with growing dismay. Sawyer then orders Hornblower to resume his extended watch, further straining discipline aboard Renown.

Sawyer discovers Hornblower asleep on watch and tells him that his life is in the captain's hands, even offering a pistol for Hornblower to shoot him. Dr. Clive, a loyalist, intervenes and leads Sawyer away, averting an immediate crisis.

Irrationally suspicious of treachery, Sawyer extends Hornblower's watch and requires hourly reports from the lieutenants. Hornblower, Buckland, Kennedy, and Bush secretly discuss whether Sawyer is fit to command, signaling the beginnings of a mutiny plot.

Gunner Hobbs, loyal to Sawyer, informs the Marines that the lieutenants are missing. The men hide as Sawyer closes in, and when revealed, Kennedy is seen before the captain staggers and falls into the hold.

Sawyer suffers memory loss after his fall and is sedated by Dr. Clive to keep his erratic behavior under wraps. Buckland assumes command as rumors spread about what happened and who was responsible.

Renown arrives at Santo Domingo only to find the Spanish fort unreachable by her guns. The ship sustains heavy damage and casualties, and the hold begins to flood as the fight fails to turn in Britain's favor.

With Renown grounded and the hold flooding, Matthews releases the imprisoned lieutenants to save them from drowning. The lieutenants are brought back into actions to help the ship escape.

Dr. Clive finally deems Sawyer unfit for command, and Buckland takes charge, ordering the captain locked in his cabin as a precaution against further chaos.

Hornblower and Bush execute a kedging maneuver to pull Renown off the rocks. Hornblower narrowly saves Bush from drowning as Buckland sails the ship clear of cannon fire.

Renown makes for Kingston where Commodore Pellew brings Hornblower to account and asks him to explain the full sequence of events. The inquiry wraps up the flashback timeline and sets the stage for the mutiny charges to be resolved.