Island of the Blue Dolphins

That night, Karana and Ramo return to the deserted village, where the “huts looked like ghosts in the cold light” (39). Dozens of wild dogs raid the huts for food, but they return to their cave at the children’s approach. Karana and her brother spend the next two days gathering food. Ramo says he prefers life on the island now that the other villagers have left, declares himself the chief of Ghalas-at, and expresses his desire to retrieve a canoe from the cliffside. Karana teases him for pretending to be a big, strong man.

Ramo sneaks away at night, and Karana is alarmed to discover his absence in the morning. She decides not to look for him because he will have to mature more quickly now that they have to fend for themselves. While she waits for Ramo to appear with the canoe, Karana gathers shellfish and reflects on the measures they will need to take to survive until the ship returns—if it ever does. When hours pass and there is still no sign of her brother, Karana hurries toward the cliff. She finds the pack of wild dogs circling Ramo’s body, which is covered in injuries left by their teeth, including “a deep wound in his throat” (45).