# All at Work explained — The Fur Country

> Chapter companion for The Fur Country by Jules Verne.

## What happens

A catastrophic avalanche of ice and earth has buried the fort, trapping Mrs. Barnett, Madge, Kalumah, and the astronomer. Lieutenant Hobson and the remaining colonists, led by carpenter Mac-Nab, work tirelessly to dig a shaft through the debris to reach the buried house and rescue their companions before they suffocate.

## Themes in this chapter

### Human Resilience and Camaraderie

The colonists work tirelessly together, risking their own safety to rescue their buried comrades, demonstrating solidarity and determination in the face of disaster.

### Survival Against Nature

The avalanche and the threat of the island sinking into the ocean highlight the constant struggle for survival against the overwhelming forces of the Arctic environment.

## Character check-ins

### Lieutenant Jaspar Hobson

Organizes the rescue effort, questions Mac-Nab about the house's strength, and listens for sounds from the buried victims.

### Mac-Nab

Head carpenter who directs the excavation, sinks the vertical shaft, and assesses the structural integrity of the buried house.

### Mrs. Paulina Barnett

One of the four buried victims; her courage is remembered as the rescuers hope she is trying to dig her way out.

### Madge

Buried alongside Mrs. Barnett; the rescuers are determined to save her.

### Kalumah

Also trapped under the avalanche; the rescue party works to free her.

### Thomas Black

The astronomer is among the buried victims; his fate is uncertain as the digging continues.

## Key lines

> Fearful catastrophe had occurred. The ice-wall had been flung upon the wandering island... it had fallen bodily upon Victoria Island, which, driven along by this mighty propelling force, was drifting rapidly to the south.

A terrible disaster struck: the ice wall collapsed onto the drifting island, and the force of the impact pushed Victoria Island southward.

_Describes the catastrophic avalanche and the island's sudden drift._

> Get shovels and pickaxes! The house is strong! it may have held together! Let us set to work!

Hobson orders the men to grab tools and start digging, hoping the house survived the collapse.

_Shows Hobson's immediate response and leadership in the crisis._

> The boring proceeded without any very great difficulty, but the ice was so hard that the progress was but slow.

The drilling went smoothly, but the ice's hardness made it slow going.

_Highlights the physical challenge of the rescue effort._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xviii-all-at-work
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_fur_country_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters