Mr. Standfast · Chapter
Various Doings in the West explained
Hannay, under the alias Cornelius Brand, travels on the Tobermory through the West Highlands, following Gresson.
What happens
Hannay, under the alias Cornelius Brand, travels on the Tobermory through the West Highlands, following Gresson. He faces challenges including lack of a passport, a suspicious deputy-lieutenant, and a near-fatal accident at sea orchestrated or witnessed by Gresson.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the psychological and identity crisis point where Richard…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Deception and Disguise
Hannay adopts multiple false identities (Brand, Blaikie) to evade detection and follow Gresson.
- Fortitude and Endurance
Hannay endures seasickness, cold, and a near-fatal accident while maintaining his cover.
- Comradeship and Loyalty
Hannay's thoughts of Blenkiron and Peter reflect his loyalty to his comrades.
Characters to notice
- Cornelius Brand
Hannay's alias as a colonial traveler on the Tobermory.
- Richard Hannay
Narrator, traveling undercover as Brand, following Gresson.
- Abel Gresson
Suspicious fellow passenger; Hannay follows him; possibly involved in Hannay's near-fall overboard.
- Mary Lamington
Recalled in Hannay's thoughts during his vigil on deck.
- John S. Blenkiron
Mentioned in Hannay's reminiscences.
- Peter Pienaar
Mentioned in Hannay's reminiscences.
- Ted Broadbury
Son of Colonel Broadbury, a young convalescent officer who helps verify Hannay's false identity.
- Captain Robert Blaikie
Identity borrowed by Hannay to evade the deputy-lieutenant.
Key passages
“I was a colonial of Scots extraction, who was paying his first visit to his fatherland and wanted to explore the beauties of the West Highlands.”
Hannay pretends to be a Scottish colonial tourist seeing the Highlands for the first time.
Hannay's cover story to the captain.
“I did not reply in a colonial accent, but with the hauteur of the British officer when stopped by a French sentry.”
Hannay switches from his colonial persona to an officer's tone when confronted by the deputy-lieutenant.
Demonstrates Hannay's quick adaptability in disguise.
“I reflected that seasickness was kitten's play to a good bout of malaria.”
Hannay compares his seasickness favorably to past malaria, showing his resilience.
Hannay's internal reflection on enduring hardship.
