Bush and Hornblower were sent to Paris to stand trial for breaking the rules of war. Assisted by Brown, the Captain's Coxswain, they managed to escape, and after lying low for several months, escape downriver to Nantes, re-capturing the British prize "Witch of Endor", and sailing out to the British fleet. As a result of this action Bush was promoted to Commander, and sentenced to death "in absentia" by a French court. He was given a shore appointment at the dockyard at Sheerness.