Flying Colours — C.S. Forester

Captive of the French, the blazingly incomparable Captain Hornblower confronts his most impossible challenge in this raging seventh adventure in the world-famed saga of the sea. Imprisoned, with no hope of pardon, he brilliantly escapes execution and plots an amazing, vengeful course.

It is 1811, and Captain Hornblower, after a doomed single- handed attack on the French fleet, is taken prisoner at Rosas. En route to Paris to face charges of piracy, he escapes with his crippled first mate and servant. Death upon discovery is certain, and they spend a strange, precarious winter in hiding. But with the first thaw they risk their lives to steal a captured English cutter--and with a shanghaied crew and an abducted pilot they battle heroically for revenge and freedom...