# XXV explained — The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen > Chapter companion for The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen by Rudolph Erich Raspe. ## What happens Count Gosamer is thrown by Sphinx onto the peak of Teneriffe; Gog and Magog take control of Sphinx. The Baron arrives at the Cape, repairs his chariot, and unites his retinue. They travel into Africa, defeat a host of lions using a clever stratagem with tar and gunpowder, cross an immense desert, survive a whirlwind of sand, and finally reach a fertile country. ## Themes in this chapter ### Adventure and Exploration The Baron's journey across the desert, lion hunt, and arrival in a fertile country exemplify adventurous exploration. ### The Marvelous and the Absurd Count Gosamer being swallowed and spit out by Sphinx, the whirlwind of sand, and the lion stratagem with tar and gunpowder are marvelously absurd. ### Self-Aggrandizement and Heroism The Baron's self-praise for his quick thinking and leadership in defeating the lions and surviving the desert. ## Character check-ins ### Baron Munchausen Narrates the chapter, commands the expedition, devises the lion stratagem, and leads the company through the desert. ### Hilaro Frosticos Mentioned as Count Gosamer, who rides Sphinx and is thrown onto Teneriffe. ### Gog Along with Magog, swims to seize Sphinx's reins and later helps steer the procession. ### Magog Assists Gog in controlling Sphinx and guiding the retinue. ### Sphinx The monstrous creature that throws Count Gosamer, is later steered by Gog and Magog, and leads the procession. ### Voltaire Mentioned as part of the National Assembly gathered on the French coast. ## Key lines > I then ordered a general pursuit: we followed them on every side through the woods, their own light serving as our guide, until, before the rising of the sun, we followed into their fastnesses and shot or otherwise destroyed every one of them The Baron commands his men to chase the flaming lions through the forest, using their fiery paws as torches, and by dawn they have killed every last lion. _Highlights the Baron's strategic victory over the lions._ > We at length arrived on the confines of an immeasurable desert⁠—an immense plain, extending on every side of us like an ocean. Not a tree, nor a shrub, nor a blade of grass was to be seen, but all appeared an extreme fine sand, mixed with gold-dust and little sparkling pearls. The party reaches a vast, barren desert that stretches like a sea, covered with fine sand containing gold dust and pearls. _Describes the surreal and inhospitable landscape._ > Sphinx, fearing he would be drowned, never turned to the left or the right out of her way, but advancing furious, just stooped her head a little, and supped the poor count off the water, into her mouth, together with the quantity of two or three tuns of water Sphinx, worried Count Gosamer might drown, scoops him up from the Bay of Biscay along with several tons of water. _Illustrates the absurd and fantastical nature of the events._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_surprising_adventures_of_baron_munchausen_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxv - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_surprising_adventures_of_baron_munchausen_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_surprising_adventures_of_baron_munchausen_se/chapters