# A Chance to Be Tried explained — The Fur Country

> Chapter companion for The Fur Country by Jules Verne.

## What happens

The colonists of Fort Hope, now aware of their dire situation on a drifting island, prepare for a desperate six-hundred-mile trek across the Arctic ice field to reach the American continent. Lieutenant Hobson and Mrs. Barnett observe the treacherous ice conditions and encounter a polar bear, whose failed escape attempt underscores their own peril. The soldiers, led by Sergeant Long, work diligently on sledges and provisions, while Hobson reveals the full truth of their predicament to the group, who pledge their loyalty. The chapter ends with the group facing the harsh, unstable ice field under the eerie Arctic twilight.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival Against Nature

The colonists face the immense challenge of crossing a treacherous ice field during the polar night, with the island's instability and harsh weather threatening their lives.

### Human Resilience and Camaraderie

The soldiers' quiet loyalty and collective resolve to follow Hobson despite knowing the danger highlight their resilience and unity.

### The Sublime and Uncanny Nature

The Arctic landscape is depicted as awe-inspiring and terrifying, with optical illusions, monstrous icebergs, and the eerie half-darkness amplifying the sense of the sublime.

## Character check-ins

### Lieutenant Jaspar Hobson

Leads the preparations for the ice crossing, reveals the truth to the colonists, and assesses the dangerous ice conditions with Mrs. Barnett.

### Mrs. Paulina Barnett

Accompanies Hobson on reconnaissance, confronts the terrifying Arctic landscape, and is moved by the soldiers' loyalty.

### Sergeant Long

Supervises the construction and repair of sledges and preparations for departure.

### Kalumah

Accompanies the reconnaissance parties and offers advice based on her experience; her arrival on the island is explained.

### Mac-Nab

Oversees the repair and strengthening of sledges; one of the first to suspect the island's true nature.

### Mrs. Joliffe

Mentioned as Rae the blacksmith, one of the soldiers who deduced the island's drift and supported Hobson.

## Key lines

> It was a white monster of immense size, more than a hundred feet high. It was pacing slowly along over the broken ice... 'A bear, madam, only a bear, the size of which has been greatly magnified by refraction.'

Mrs. Barnett sees a huge polar bear that appears monstrous due to an optical illusion; Hobson explains it is just a bear, its size exaggerated by refraction.

_Highlights the deceptive nature of Arctic light and the bear's failed escape, mirroring the colonists' own predicament._

> The brave fellows knew it then! And that they might not add to the cares of their chief, they had pretended to know nothing... Tears of emotion stood in Hobson's eyes, and he made no attempt to conceal them.

The soldiers had secretly deduced the island was drifting but kept quiet to spare Hobson worry; Hobson is moved by their loyalty.

_Emphasizes the camaraderie and mutual respect between Hobson and his men._

> We shall have six hundred miles to go in the cold and darkness of the Polar night. It will be hard work, my friends but you know as well as I do that there can be no shirking from the task.

Hobson tells the colonists they must travel six hundred miles across the ice in the dark Arctic winter, acknowledging the difficulty but insisting they cannot avoid it.

_Sets the stakes for the impending journey and the collective determination required._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xii-a-chance-to-be-tried
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_fur_country_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters