# Fifteen Miles from Cape Bathurst explained — The Fur Country

> Chapter companion for The Fur Country by Jules Verne.

## What happens

As September begins, the colonists rush to finish the fort's defenses and buildings before winter. Lieutenant Hobson leads a hunting expedition for seals fifteen miles from Cape Bathurst, accompanied by Mrs. Barnett, Sergeant Long, and soldiers. At the site, they find walruses instead of seals and observe striking geological contrasts between the volcanic cliffs and the sedimentary cape. Hobson puzzles over the unusually low tides at Cape Bathurst, hinting at a mystery about the land's nature.

## Themes in this chapter

### Exploration and Ambition

Hobson's expedition to hunt seals also serves to survey the unknown coastline and assess the possibility of a navigable Northwest Passage.

### Scientific Curiosity

Hobson and Mrs. Barnett investigate the anomalously low tides at Cape Bathurst, and Hobson studies the volcanic geology of the cliffs.

### Survival Against Nature

The urgent completion of fortifications and the hunting expedition highlight the constant struggle to prepare for the harsh Arctic winter.

## Character check-ins

### Lieutenant Jaspar Hobson

Leads the hunting expedition, observes the tides with concern, and climbs the cliffs to survey the terrain.

### Mrs. Paulina Barnett

Accompanies the expedition out of curiosity, discusses the tidal anomaly with Hobson, and climbs the cliff with him.

### Sergeant Long

Part of the hunting party, comments on the walruses' distance and questions Hobson about the volcanoes.

### Mac-Nab

Mentioned as overseeing the construction work at the fort, with his workmen surpassing themselves in industry.

### Petersen

One of the soldiers chosen for the expedition, takes up position as a sentinel at Walruses' Bay.

### Captain Kellet

Included in the hunting party, serves as a sentinel at the bay.

## Key lines

> September had now commenced, and as upon the most favourable calculation only three more weeks would intervene before the bad season set in and interrupted the labours of the explorers, the greatest haste was necessary in completing the new buildings, and Mac-Nab and his workmen surpassed themselves in industry.

With September beginning and only three weeks of good weather left before winter halted outdoor work, the colonists rushed to finish the fort's buildings, and Mac-Nab's crew worked with exceptional speed.

_Sets the urgent tone for the chapter's activities._

> How then was it to be explained that the sea did not at high tide inundate Cape Bathurst, which possessed no natural defences such as cliffs or downs?

Why didn't the high tide flood Cape Bathurst, since it had no cliffs or hills to hold back the water?

_Highlights the central mystery of the chapter regarding the tides._

> It is probable that ages ago portion of the continent was rent away in some violent volcanic convulsion, and flung into the Arctic Ocean. Hence the absence of morses on the beach of our cape.

Hobson suggests that a volcanic eruption long ago tore a piece of the continent away and cast it into the ocean, explaining why walruses don't come ashore at Cape Bathurst.

_Foreshadows the later discovery that the fort is on a floating island._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xv-fifteen-miles-from-cape-bathurst
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_fur_country_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters