Greenmantle · Chapter
IX: The Return of the Straggler explained
Hannay, disguised as Cornelis Brandt, works on a Danube riverboat captained by Schenk.
What happens
Hannay, disguised as Cornelis Brandt, works on a Danube riverboat captained by Schenk. After a chaotic New Year's Eve shore leave, two crewmen desert. Hannay unexpectedly finds Peter Pienaar, who has escaped from a prison camp, and quickly hires him as a deckhand. Peter later recounts his clever escape, which involved feigning a plan with fellow prisoners (who were actually spies) and then escaping a day early. The chapter ends with the boat crossing into Austria.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Disguise
Hannay maintains his Cornelis Brandt disguise, and Peter feigns being a half-wit to avoid suspicion.
Friendship and Comradeship
Hannay and Peter reunite and work together, with Peter recounting his escape and Hannay protecting him.
Courage in the Face of Death
Peter's daring escape from a heavily guarded prison camp demonstrates his bravery and resourcefulness.
Characters to notice
- Richard Hannay
Disguised as Cornelis Brandt, working as an engineer on a Danube riverboat; he orchestrates Peter's hiring.
- Peter Pienaar
Escaped from a prison camp at Neuburg; joins Hannay on the boat under the alias Anton Blum.
- Cornelis Brandt
Hannay's alias; he poses as a German businessman and former employer of Peter.
Key passages
“If I had a soft job like a river-boat I shouldn't be inclined to run away in the middle of Germany with the certainty that my best fate would be to be scooped up for the trenches, but your Frisian has no more imagination than a haddock.”
Hannay reflects that he wouldn't desert a cushy riverboat job, but the unimaginative Frisian crewmen did.
Hannay's commentary on the deserters' lack of foresight.
“I made great pals with them. On Christmas night we were very jolly together. I think I spotted every one of them the first day.”
Peter befriended the spy prisoners, recognizing them immediately, and played along with their scheme.
Peter's cunning in identifying and using the spies to aid his escape.