In a port on the French coast sailors from a large ship are regaling themselves at an inn in sportive idleness. The captain of this crew appears with other officers on the scene and is served by the sweetheart of the pirate chief, who appears and observes the advances of the captain to the girl. The insults of the captain are severely resented by the young pirate lover, though he is soundly beaten by the crew, which comes to the rescue of the captain. The captain with his wife and child shortly after embark on a voyage and the young pirate follows, bent on revenge; which he ultimately satisfies after a terrific conflict between the two ships wherein is portrayed all the realistic effects in naval encounters at close range in a desperate hand-to-hand struggle, which closes with the destruction and burning of the ship of the presumptuous captain.