COURAGE

When Karana reaches the beach, all of the men except Nanko and Matasaip have already boarded the ship. Karana has lost track of Ramo, but Nanko tells her the he was on the first canoe to the ship. Upon reaching the ship, Karana looks around for Ramo, but he is nowhere to be found. Nanko offers her his assurance that he is on the ship, but then Karana notices him back on the island, running along the cliff with his spear in his hand.
Chief Matasaip explains to Karana that they cannot wait for Ramo, because if they do, the ship will be wrecked against the rocks. Then, though many people try to restrain her, Karana jumps off the boat into the water and swims back to shore.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dolphins/section4.rhtml

Based on real events, this is the story of Karana, a young Indian girl who lives on the Island of the Blue Dolphins, which is actually San Nicolas. She and her brother are left marooned on this island when all the villagers leave to live on another island. Time passes as Karana struggles to survive on her own. When her brother dies, she realizes she must build a home and find food and store it for each winter. She makes weapons and clothing. The years pass in isolation. Although faced with loneliness and physical danger every day, Karana finds courage and serenity.

http://home.earthlink.net/~eduscapes/units/island/

After Ramo is killed and Karana is left alone on Ghalas-at, she has many enemies and no friends. She is harassed constantly by the wild dogs of her island, and lives with the vague fear in the back of her mind that one day the Aleuts that killed her people will return to the island. Eventually, Karana is forced into confrontation both with the wild dogs and with the Aleuts.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dolphins/themes.html

SUMMARY

The villagers scramble to pack for their journey. They had brought only the bare necessities when they thought they were fleeing the Aleuts, and so choose a few possessions to bring with them.As they head toward the beach, Ramo realizes he has left his fishing spear at the village, but Karana knows there is not enough time to go back tells him he must leave it behind.Chief Matasaip explains to Karana that they cannot wait for Ramo, because if they do, the ship will be wrecked against the rocks. Then, though many people try to restrain her, Karana jumps off the boat into the water and swims back to shore to find Ramo. Time passes as Karana struggles to survive on her own. After Ramo is killed and Karana is left alone on Ghalas-at, she has many enemies and no friends. She is harassed constantly by the wild dogs of her island, and lives with the vague fear in the back of her mind that one day the Aleuts that killed her people will return to the island. Karana makes weapons and clothing for herself. The years pass in isolation. Although faced with loneliness and physical danger every day, Karana finds courage and serenity.

Taken from:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dolphins/section4.rhtml
http://home.earthlink.net/~eduscapes/units/island/
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dolphins/themes.html