Phillip Enright is a young man living with his parents
during World War II in Curacao, an island in the Dutch West Indies. He lives a somewhat
privileged life, since his father holds an important position with an oil company on the
island. Due in part to his mother's Deep South roots, Phillip harbors racist views about
the native West Indians around him. He is immature, selfish and opinionated--boyish
traits that eventually dissolve during his stay on the
cay.
Timothy is a native of St. Thomas in the Virgin
Islands. An aging, veteran sailor, he saves Phillip when the ship on which they are
travelling is sunk near Panama. Timothy proves to be a kind, patient man who treats
Phillip as a father would a son. Timothy occasionally shows his anger, slapping Phillip
when the boy insults him, but Timothy's wisdom is evident through most of the novel.
After Phillip goes blind, Timothy teaches the boy how to care for himself. Timothy
realizes that the two may be stranded on the island for a long period of time, and the
old sailor understands that he may die before they are rescued. He teaches Phillip to be
self-sufficient, and during the hurricane, Timothy shields the boy from the storm,
eventually dying from the ordeal. Timothy's courage and unselfishness wins Phillip's
love and admiration, and the sailor's foresight proves to save the boy's
life.
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