There is no one left -- Mistress Mary quite contrary -- Across the moor -- Martha -- Cry in the corridor -- "There was someone crying-there was!" -- Key of the garden -- Robin who showed the way -- Strangest house anyone ever lived in -- Dickon -- Nest of the missel thrush -- "Might I have a bit of earth?" -- "I am Colin" -- Young Rajah -- Nest building -- "I won't!" said Mary -- Tantrum -- "Tha' munnot waste no time" -- "It has come!" -- "I shall...

Having survived being blinded and shipwrecked on a tiny Caribbean island with the old black man Timothy, twelve-year-old white Phillip is rescued and hopes to regain his sight with an operation. Alternate chapters follow the life of Timothy from his days as a young cabin boy.

Although mute since the death of his parents in a fire, a young Nez Percé Indian boy has a happy and adventurous life with his adopted family until the growing conflict between the white man and the Indians erupts into war in the summer of 1877 and changes his life forever.

Alison spends her thirteenth summer on a ranch in Wyoming where she learns to ride a horse and where Kelly, who is blind, helps her overcome an old fear.