# Sergeant Long — The Fur Country character guide > Sergeant Long in The Fur Country by Jules Verne. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Marbre, Long, Sergeant Long, the brave Sergeant, Poor Long **First appearance:** 0002-part-i-i-a-soiree-at-fort-reliance ## Snapshot A fifty-year-old soldier who obeys without question, a perfect machine in uniform, and the first to volunteer when a life must be risked. ## Who they are Long is Hobson's right hand, constitutionally brave and born to obey rather than command, hard on his men only as he is hard on himself. When the colony needs someone to crawl through the snow to the fuel shed, he insists on going first, roping himself and swallowing rum 'to insure a good load of wood.' His unflinching discipline is the spine of the expedition. ## In the story ### [The Fur Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/the-fur-country) Mentioned as part of the expedition party. ### [A Soiree at Fort Reliance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-i-a-soiree-at-fort-reliance) Described as the perfect soldier, a man of fifty with a rough beard, constitutionally brave, and strictly obedient to orders without question. ### [II: The Hudson’s Bay Fur Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-ii-the-hudson-s-bay-fur-company) Ordered by Captain Craventy to investigate the cries outside during the punch celebration. ### [A Savant Thawed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-iii-a-savant-thawed) Opens the fort gate and assists in carrying Black inside. ### [From Fort Reliance to Fort Enterprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-v-from-fort-reliance-to-fort-enterprise) Rides with Hobson, expresses unwavering obedience, stating he would follow any order even to the North Pole. ### [A Wapiti Duel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-vi-a-wapiti-duel) Skilled hunter who tracks and kills the wapiti, advises waiting for the duel to end. ### [VII: The Arctic Circle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-vii-the-arctic-circle) Consulted by Hobson about the weather and the decision to halt; shares a hut with Thomas Black. ### [The Great Bear Lake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-viii-the-great-bear-lake) Accompanies the party to Fort Confidence and assists with hospitality. ### [A Retrospect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-x-a-retrospect) Accompanies the expedition, sharing a sledge with Madge, and bids farewell to his brother-in-law Sergeant Felton. ### [Along the Coast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xi-along-the-coast) Consulted by Hobson on the route; notes that men beyond the 70th parallel receive double pay. ### [XII: The Midnight Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xii-the-midnight-sun) Accompanies the exploration of the district and shares the opinion about the dancing Frenchman. ### [Fort Hope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-fort-hope) Not directly mentioned in this chapter, but implied as part of the party; omitted due to lack of explicit reference. ### [Some Excursions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xiv-some-excursions) Demonstrates skill as an angler, fishing daily with Madge. ### [Fifteen Miles from Cape Bathurst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xv-fifteen-miles-from-cape-bathurst) Part of the hunting party, comments on the walruses' distance and questions Hobson about the volcanoes. ### [XVI: Two Shots](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xvi-two-shots) Part of the hunting party, assisting in the pursuit of the silver fox. ### [The Polar Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xviii-the-polar-night) Recalls the extreme cold of 70° below zero at Fort Reliance in 1845. ### [Mercury Freezes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xx-mercury-freezes) Reports the wood shortage and discusses the cold with Hobson; shows devotion. ### [The Large Polar Bears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xxi-the-large-polar-bears) Identifies the bears initially, advises on their behavior, and volunteers for the risky fuel-gathering mission. ### [Five Months More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xxii-five-months-more) Accompanies Hobson to check the lake's water sweetness and assists in assessing the terrain. ### [XXIII: The Eclipse of the 18th July 1860](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii-the-eclipse-of-the-18th-july-1860) Mentioned as one who cannot understand Black's distress over 'love of the moon.' ### [A Floating Fort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-i-a-floating-fort) Remains with Hobson after the others leave, awaiting orders. ### [Where Are We?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-where-are-we) Informs the men that the departure for Fort Reliance is postponed, using pretexts to keep the true situation secret. ### [A Tour of the Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-a-tour-of-the-island) Accompanies Hobson and Mrs. Barnett, comments on the fatality of their settlement, and expresses patience for rescue. ### [A Night Encampment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-iv-a-night-encampment) Nearly drowns when the ice gives way under him while digging; remains calm and self-possessed, later dries his legs by the campfire. ### [V: From July 25th to August 20th](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-v-from-july-25th-to-august-20th) Assists Hobson in monitoring the island's sinking; notes the ice is wearing away. ### [VI: Ten Days of Tempest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-vi-ten-days-of-tempest) Agrees to accompany Hobson on the secret mission to the south; prepares a tinderbox and touchwood for signals. ### [A Fire and a Cry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-vii-a-fire-and-a-cry) Accompanies Hobson, shares his trust in God, helps light the signal fire, and is the first to spot the distant fire and hear the cry. ### [Mrs. Paulina Barnett's Excursion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-mrs-paulina-barnett-s-excursion) Accompanies Hobson on the exploration; suggests the fire and cry may have come from a ship in distress. ### [Kalumah’s Adventures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-ix-kalumah-s-adventures) Mentioned as having seen Kalumah's signal fire with Hobson. ### [X: The Kamchatka Current](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-x-the-kamchatka-current) Agrees with Mrs. Barnett's opinion to keep the danger secret for now; shows courage and resignation. ### [A Communication from Lieutenant Hobson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xi-a-communication-from-lieutenant-hobson) Advises immediate departure and helps assess the ice conditions; calls the men together for Hobson's announcement. ### [A Chance to Be Tried](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xii-a-chance-to-be-tried) Supervises the construction and repair of sledges and preparations for departure. ### [XIII: Across the Ice Field](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii-across-the-ice-field) Accompanies Hobson in scouting the crevasse and insists they must find a way across. ### [The Winter Months](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv-the-winter-months) Expresses doubts about the polar bear's intentions and prepares to defend the fort. ### [The Avalanche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii-the-avalanche) Accompanies Hobson on the ice field exploration and witnesses the avalanche's devastation. ### [XIX: Bering Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xix-bering-sea) Participates in discussions with Hobson, Mrs. Barnett, and the head carpenter about the island's fate. ### [In the Offing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xx-in-the-offing) Shakes his head doubtfully when Hobson hopes to reach the Aleutians in eight days, and is consulted about the raft decision. ### [On a Piece of Ice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiii-on-a-piece-of-ice) Assists Hobson in decision-making and helps manage the colonists' morale. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/characters/sergeant_long - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fur_country_se/characters