# Carruthers — The Riddle of the Sands character guide > Carruthers in The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Dear Carruthers, Herr Carruthers **First appearance:** 0003-i-the-letter ## Who they are A bored Foreign Office man who trades his desk for a small yacht's cockpit, and finds his diplomatic instincts suddenly, urgently useful. ## Relationships ### [Arthur H. Davies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/characters/arthur_h_davies) _friendship_ Davies and Carruthers are close friends and co-investigators, sharing a strong bond of trust. ### [Dollmann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/characters/dollmann) _rivalry_ Carruthers views Dollmann with suspicion and is part of the effort to expose his treachery. ### [Arthur H. Davies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/characters/arthur_h_davies) _friendship_ Davies and Carruthers are close friends and co-investigators, sharing a strong bond of trust. ### [Dollmann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/characters/dollmann) _rivalry_ Carruthers views Dollmann with suspicion and is part of the effort to expose his treachery. ### [Dollmann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/characters/dollmann) _rivalry_ Carruthers views Dollmann with suspicion and is part of the effort to expose his treachery. ### [Arthur H. Davies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/characters/arthur_h_davies) _friendship_ Davies and Carruthers are close friends and co-investigators, sharing a strong bond of trust. ## In the story ### [The Riddle of the Sands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/the-riddle-of-the-sands) The narrator and protagonist, a Foreign Office clerk who receives Davies' letter and decides to join the yachting trip. ### [The Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/i-the-letter) Protagonist; a Foreign Office clerk feeling isolated and undervalued in London during September. ### [The Dulcibella](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/ii-the-dulcibella) Arrives in Flensburg, struggles with the reality of the Dulcibella's size and condition, and reluctantly boards the yacht. ### [III: Davies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/iii-davies) Carruthers reflects on his initial misjudgment of Davies, feeling both discomfort and a growing respect. He struggles with the physical demands of the voyage but begins to appreciate the experience. ### [IV: Retrospect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/iv-retrospect) Carruthers presses Davies for details about his voyage, expressing curiosity and a preference for comfort. He reflects on Davies's character and motives. ### [Wanted, a North Wind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/v-wanted-a-north-wind) Carruthers reads the logbook, notices the missing page, and accompanies Davies to Sonderburg and the inn, feeling out of place among the fishermen. ### [Schlei Fjord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/vi-schlei-fjord) Narrates the chapter; struggles with sailing skills and oilskins, feels out of his element, but warms to Davies after an apology. ### [VII: The Missing Page](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/vii-the-missing-page) Listener to Davies' story; observes Davies' unusual behavior and examines the chart. ### [The Theory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/viii-the-theory) Carruthers listens to Davies' theory, makes conjectures, and remains only half convinced of the truth of the affair. ### [IX: I Sign Articles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/ix-i-sign-articles) Decides to join Davies' quest after weighing the evidence; expresses doubts about the theory and the morality of spying. ### [His Chance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/x-his-chance) Carruthers listens to Davies' views, reflects on his own previous apathy, and writes letters home and to his chief requesting possible extended leave. ### [XI: The Pathfinders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xi-the-pathfinders) Inquires about the lady who asked for the Dulcibella, relays the news to Davies, and assists with sailing and kedging. ### [My Initiation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xii-my-initiation) Carruthers struggles with fear during the first anchorage and the gale, but ultimately conquers his weakness and gains confidence in the yacht and the mission. ### [XIII: The Meaning of Our Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xiii-the-meaning-of-our-work) Carruthers hardens to the life at sea, gains dexterity in sailing and navigation, becomes impatient with the lack of progress on the mystery, and feels a growing zeal for their work. ### [The First Night in the Islands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xiv-the-first-night-in-the-islands) Left alone on the yacht, Carruthers experiences a tense encounter with a mysterious prowler. He reflects on his fatigue and the growing sense of danger. ### [Bensersiel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xv-bensersiel) Narrates the diary entries, describes the storm and the loss of the anchor, and reflects on the relief of reaching harbor. ### [Commander von Brüning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xvi-commander-von-br-ning) Narrates the chapter; reveals his Foreign Office employment and deflects suspicion with a fabricated anchor theft story. ### [Clearing the Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xvii-clearing-the-air) Presses Davies to face the emotional and strategic implications of their mission, arguing for pragmatism and the need to revisit the Dollmanns. ### [Imperial Escort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xviii-imperial-escort) Feels a sense of defeat and suspicion toward von Brüning's intentions; struggles with his own diplomatic impotence. ### [XIX: The Rubicon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xix-the-rubicon) Narrates the chapter, observes Davies's tension and Fräulein Dollmann's reaction, tidies the saloon for her visit. ### [The Little Drab Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xx-the-little-drab-book) Listens to Davies's theory, examines the book, and joins in the plan to confront Dollmann; reflects on the romantic and chivalric nature of their enterprise. ### [Blindfold to Memmert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xxi-blindfold-to-memmert) Carruthers assists in rowing and follows Davies' instructions, experiencing both doubt and admiration for Davies' skill. ### [The Quartet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xxii-the-quartet) Lands alone on Memmert, navigates fog, spies on the meeting, uses disguise and quick thinking to avoid detection. ### [A Change of Tactics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xxiii-a-change-of-tactics) Analyzes the situation, deduces Dollmann's motives, and advocates for a change in tactics. ### [Finesse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xxiv-finesse) Narrator and strategist; uses finesse to probe the dinner party guests about Memmert, feigns drunkenness, and observes the undercurrents of deception. ### [XXV: I Double Back](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xxv-i-double-back) Narrator; travels alone, studies maps, and assembles clues about the German defense scheme. ### [The Seven Siels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xxvi-the-seven-siels) Protagonist; deduces the seven siels and plans to shadow the conspirators. ### [The Luck of the Stowaway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xxvii-the-luck-of-the-stowaway) Narrator and protagonist; stows away on the tug, disguises himself, and intentionally grounds the vessel. ### [We Achieve Our Double Aim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/xxviii-we-achieve-our-double-aim) Narrator; escapes tug, reunites with Davies, confronts Dollmann, and sails to Holland. ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/chapters/epilogue) Referenced as 'Carruthers' in the context of the earlier narrative and his suppositions about Hilgenriedersiel. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/characters/carruthers - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_riddle_of_the_sands_se/characters