The Fur Country · Character

Mac-Nab

The expedition's head carpenter, whose practical hands and watchful barricades keep the northern house standing when the bears come calling.

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Mac-Nab, little Michael Mac-Nab, Michael Mac-Nab, the carpenter Mac-Nab

First appearance: part i iv a factory

As a supporting figure in The Fur Country, Mac-Nab is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The master carpenter who supervises the construction of the principal house and selects the timber.

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Mac-Nab belongs to the working spine of Lieutenant Hobson's party, the man who wedges shut the narrow slit through which the unwelcome visitors are watched and who speaks of holding a council of war. His craft matters most when the cold itself becomes an enemy: walrus oil freezes hard enough to need a hatchet, and the loft turns too bitter for bare hands on gun barrels. He is the sort of settler whose competence quietly decides whether a fragile outpost survives its first siege.

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See Mac-Nab in part i iv a factory

Character Web

8 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Expedition Core Team
Protagonist
Peripheral Support Characters

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

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In the story

Mac-Nab appears across 23 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Fort Hope
The master carpenter who supervises the construction of the principal house and selects the timber.
Fifteen Miles from Cape Bathurst
Mentioned as overseeing the construction work at the fort, with his workmen surpassing themselves in industry.
The Approach of Winter
Proud father of newborn Michael Hope; his wife Mrs. Mac-Nab gives birth safely.
The Polar Night
Worries about the chimneys being blown over during the storm.
A Neighbourly Visit
Leads the work of clearing snow from the outer approaches of the enceinte and resetting traps.
Mercury Freezes
Mentioned as part of the colony; present at the Christmas celebration.
The Large Polar Bears
The carpenter who barricades the window and despairs as the bears damage the roof he constructed.
Five Months More
Executes urgent repairs to the fort's woodwork and chimneys after the earthquake.
A Tour of the Island
Ordered to construct a large boat for a future reconnaissance, using the beach at Cape Bathurst as his dockyard.
V: From July 25th to August 20th
Cuts timber and builds new structures, including a wood shed and sentry-boxes; remains unaware of the peril.
VI: Ten Days of Tempest
Constantly repairs the fort's chimneys and structure; lives in dread of the building collapsing under the storm.
Mrs. Paulina Barnett's Excursion
Mentioned as Marbre, who inquires about the possibility of seeing comrades from Fort Reliance.
X: The Kamchatka Current
Struggles to construct a boat capable of carrying the party; noted as a carpenter.
A Communication from Lieutenant Hobson
His son Michael turns one year old and is weighed at a small celebration.
A Chance to Be Tried
Oversees the repair and strengthening of sledges; one of the first to suspect the island's true nature.
The Winter Months
Works hard on boat construction; his son Michael falls ill and recovers.
The Last Exploring Expedition
Completes the construction of the boat for the colony's escape.
The Breakup of the Ice
Completes the boat and leads work to strengthen the fort's main house against ice pressure.
The Avalanche
Escapes the avalanche with his little boy and reports the destruction to Hobson.
All at Work
Head carpenter who directs the excavation, sinks the vertical shaft, and assesses the structural integrity of the buried house.
In the Offing
Wishes to make the raft as strong as possible for the long journey; consulted by Hobson.
The Island Becomes and Islet
Constructs the large cabin on the raft and oversees its building.
Conclusion
Mentioned as Mrs. Barnett's godson, Michael Mac-Nab, now part of the colony.

Chapter companion notes

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