# IX: The Return of the Straggler explained — Greenmantle

> Chapter companion for Greenmantle by John Buchan.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/greenmantle_se/chapters/ix-the-return-of-the-straggler
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/greenmantle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/greenmantle_se/chapters