Little Myra's Odyssey

The child's journey from pampered passenger to shipwrecked waif and finally to beloved granddaughter.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Running to the Sailor

Running to the Sailor The Moment A little girl runs into Rowland's work space, laughing and screaming, and clings to his legs. She has "wunned away" from mamma. Why It Matters The child's innocent trust contrasts with her mother's fear. She has no knowledge of the old quarrel between Rowland and Myra Gaunt. Her spontaneous affection is the first link in the bond that will save her life.

Night Wanderer

Night Wanderer The Moment As Rowland stands drugged on the bridge, the child sleepwalks up the steps and stands at his feet. He picks her up and wraps his pea-jacket around her. Why It Matters Her sleepwalking brings her to the one adult who can protect her when the iceberg strikes. Rowland is holding her when the shipwreck begins. This is the accident of fate that makes her his responsibility.

Polar Bear Wounds

Polar Bear Wounds The Moment The polar bear dashes the child a dozen feet away with one blow, leaving deep scratches on her back. Rowland fights the bear and then treats the wounds with bear fat and canvas wrappings. Why It Matters The wounds become the evidence of her ordeal and later cause her mother to accuse Rowland of torture. But they also prove his heroism. The child survives because Rowland's body is between her and the bear.

Canvas Dress at Lloyds

Canvas Dress at Lloyds The Moment The child appears in Mr. Meyer's office wearing a dress of bagging-stuff put together with sail-twine in sail-makers' stitches. Mr. Selfridge asks her name and she smiles and says "Gwampa." Why It Matters The dress is a symbol of the sailor community that saved her. It also marks her as a waif of the sea, far from her Fifth Avenue home. The recognition gives her a family again.

Screaming for Dammy

Screaming for Dammy The Moment In court, Myra shouts profanely for Rowland while her mother tries to silence her. She calls him by the nickname she coined, "Dammy." Why It Matters The child's insistence is the final piece of evidence that Rowland is not a kidnapper but a protector. The magistrate discharges him. Her love for Rowland is the emotional truth that the adults have been too blind to see.

first morning at sea

the night before the wreck

the morning after the wreck, on the iceberg

two months later

at the New York courtroom