# XL explained — The Survivors of the Chancellor

> Chapter companion for The Survivors of the Chancellor by Jules Verne.

## What happens

The survivors on the raft endure extreme hunger and desperation, resorting to gnawing leather and other animal matter. Lieutenant Walter dies despite the care of the narrator and Miss Herbey, leaving behind his mother's letter.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Sacrifice

The survivors resort to gnawing leather and other animal matter to stave off starvation, highlighting the extreme lengths taken for survival.

### Hope and Despair

The narrator questions whether greater agonies await, reflecting the oscillation between hope and despair amidst ongoing suffering.

## Character check-ins

### Owen

Released from restraint due to his deplorable state from salt water exposure.

### Sandon

Suffering from severe smarting caused by salt water.

### Burke

Also suffering from the severe smarting caused by salt water.

### Hobart

Suspected of having a secret store of food; did not partake in the leather gnawing.

### Walter

Dies in the narrator's arms after thanking Miss Herbey and the narrator for their kindness.

## Key lines

> Instantly we all followed his example; a leather hat, the rims of caps, in short, anything that contained any animal matter at all, were gnawed and sucked with the utmost avidity.

Everyone immediately copied him, chewing and sucking on any leather or animal-based material they could find.

_Describes the desperate hunger-driven behavior of the group._

> I placed the letter in his cold hand, and raised it to his lips; his eye lighted for a moment; we heard the faint sound of a kiss, and all was over!

I put the letter in his cold hand and lifted it to his mouth; his eyes briefly brightened, we heard a faint kiss, and then he died.

_Depicts the poignant final moments of Lieutenant Walter's life._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xl
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters