First published 1966
Captain Wight faces a problem. His massive Newfoundland dog Sailor cannot stay in their area of Newfoundland, where dogs are forbidden. The captain must find Sailor a new home before embarking on his spring seal hunting voyage into the frigid waters. But Sailor makes his own decision when he encounters Jamie, a young stowaway hiding aboard the captain's vessel. Jamie has dreamed of becoming a seal hunter and living the adventurous life at sea. Captain Wight takes a liking to the boy and offers to adopt him, promising to teach Jamie the art of swiling and all its secrets. Yet when Jamie witnesses the seal hunt firsthand, he discovers he cannot stomach this way of life. He must abandon his dreams and leave Captain Wight behind. Sailor, however, refuses to abandon his chosen friend Jamie. The loyal dog's determination leads to an unexpected solution that resolves both Jamie's uncertain future and Sailor's need for a permanent home in Spanish Choice Cove.
Genres: animals, family-life, historical-fiction, adventure, coming-of-age
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, loyalty
Setting: Newfoundland, Spanish Choice Cove
Period: 19th-century
140 pages · Library Binding · Harper & Row