Thanks for the interesting link, AAAndrew!
The companion appears to use a crook handled cane.
In the past the crook handled walking stick/cane was widely used in the outdoors, hence its traditional English name: 'tourist handle walking stick'. There are many old photographs showing 'ramblers' with their crook handled sticks in hand.
It is a recent development that it came associated with the injured, infirm/old.
Even today crook handled tall canes are sold for hiking purposes e.g. in Spain, where they are called 'baston(es) de montana':
http://www.tiendashop.com/detall.asp?id=3406
http://www.tiendashop.com/detall.asp?id=3405