zb115+Rontu-Aru

==In Chapters 25 and 26 of //Island of the Blue Dolphins// by Scott O'Dell, Karana captures and tames the son of Rontu after Rontu dies of old age. Some people may think that Karana immediately replaces Rontu, but the reader knows that Karana waited a whole winter. At the end of chapter 26 it may look like Karana is replacing Rontu, but by now we see that the new dogs reminds Karana of all the good times she had with Rontu. On page 157, the author says "Often when I watched him chasing gulls on the sandspit or on the reef barking at the otter, I forgot that he was not Rontu. On the one hand, Karana might have preferred Rontu- Aru because he was younger, less dangerous, and he didn't kill Ramo; she is taking care of a pet and has company. Because Rontu died, Karana was very lonely and wanted a friend.==