Changes: Mr Duck

Revision as of 14:23, 14 February 2009

Peter Duck is an elderly seaman who had sailed for "Sixty years .. and maybe a bit more" on many ships; including clipper ships with tea from China (including the Thermoplyae), and wool ships from Australia. He had been "round the Horn" again and again, until he knew it "as well as he knew the crook of his own thumb".

He retired to own and captain the wherry the Arrow of Norwich on the Norfolk rivers; between Norwich, Lowestoft, Yarmouth and Beccles. He joined Captain Flint and the Swallows and Amazons on their schooner Wild Cat as an able seaman, for another voyage (to sea) before it was too late (PD1).

Peter Duck's tale of being shipwrecked and watching two men bury a mysterious box on the deserted Crab Island has led to much speculation about treasure. This inspired the notorious Black Jake to search unsuccessfully for the treasure and keep pestering Mr Duck for more information. When Black Jake sees Wild Cat setting sail with Mr Duck aboard, he is convinced that Captain Flint has persuaded him to to lead them to the treasure on Crab Island.

At the end of Peter Duck, Bill visits Mr Duck's three daughters, who had all married farmers. Bill decides that he likes the one in Beccles best (she is not named), and settles down there, where he gets a bit of schooling (PD36). The other two daughters are Annie at Acle and Rose at Potter Heigham. Peter Duck says he has three ports of call, where I can tie up my old wherry, and have a pipe by the fireside (PD6).

Peter Duck is a calm individual who is not really interested in treasure-hunting. He acts as a curb to Captain Flint's enthusiasm and provides essential adult supervision of the children.

Does Peter Duck exist?

Peter Duck is described as Titty's imaginary friend in Swallowdale (SD4).

In 'Their Own Story' Peter Duck makes a sudden entrance (TOS2) then engages in the ongoing conversation about telling a story, contributing the name Wild Cat for the putative schooner. He got this name from an island he had seen on a chart in "...that book you was talking about" (he meant Swallows and Amazons). Mr Duck continues to serve as able seaman and occasional milk supplier to Polly Ann on her Norfolk cruise.

Source

Peter Duck's appearance and early sailing history is based on Captain Carl Sehmel who sailed with Arthur Ransome and Evgenia Shelepina (the Cook) in Racundra's First Cruise.

This article is a Ship's Baby. You can help Arthur Ransome Wiki by giving it some cream puffs.

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 '''Peter Duck''' is an elderly seaman who had sailed for "Sixty years .. and maybe a bit more" on many ships; including clipper ships with tea from China (including the ''Thermoplyae''), and wool ships from Australia. He had been "[[Cape Horn|round the Horn]]" again and again, until he knew it "as well as he knew the crook of his own thumb".
-He retired to own and captain the wherry the ''[[Arrow of Norwich]]'' on the [[Norfolk]] rivers; between [[Norwich]], [[Lowestoft]], [[Yarmouth]] and [[Beccles]]. He joined [[Captain Flint]] and the [[Swallows]] and [[Amazons]] on their schooner ''[[Wild Cat]]'' as an [[able seaman]], for ''another voyage (to sea) before it was too late'' ([[PD]]1).
+He retired to own and captain the wherry the ''[[Arrow of Norwich]]'' on the [[Norfolk]] rivers; between [[Norwich]], [[Lowestoft]], [[Yarmouth]] and [[Beccles]]. He joined [[Captain Flint]] and the [[Swallows]] and [[Amazons]] on their schooner ''[[Wild Cat]]'' as an [[able seaman]], for ''another voyage'' (to sea) ''before it was too late'' ([[PD]]1).
 Peter Duck's tale of being shipwrecked and watching two men bury a mysterious box on the deserted [[Crab Island]] has led to much speculation about treasure. This inspired the notorious [[Black Jake]] to search unsuccessfully for the treasure and keep pestering Mr Duck for more information. When Black Jake sees ''Wild Cat'' setting sail with Mr Duck aboard, he is convinced that Captain Flint has persuaded him to to lead them to the treasure on Crab Island.
+At the end of ''[[Peter Duck]]'', Bill visits Mr Duck's three daughters, who had all married farmers. Bill decides that he likes the one in [[Beccles]] best (she is not named), and settles down there, where he gets ''a bit of schooling'' ([[PD]]36). The other two daughters are Annie at Acle and Rose at Potter Heigham. Peter Duck says he has ''three ports of call, where I can tie up my old wherry, and have a pipe by the fireside'' ([[PD]]6).
 Peter Duck is a calm individual who is not really interested in treasure-hunting. He acts as a curb to Captain Flint's enthusiasm and provides essential adult supervision of the children.