I'm not quite sure of what you're asking in your question, but I will answer based on what I think you might be asking about.

Mafatu is shamed by his father and the other boys into going out to sea in a canoe. He decides he must face his fear of the sea. Mafatu does take his dog, Uri, with him. Uri gives Mafatu the strength to face dangers and do things he normally wouldn't do for himself. So, the first dangers Mafatu faces he overcomes because of his love for Uri, his dog. Over time, Mafatu matures as a result of the dangers he has overcome, and his self-confidence grows. At this point, Mafatu cannot be defeated because he's learned to face his fears and now has the courage to stand up to any obstacle in his way. It is Mafatu's self-respect, pride, and belief in himself that he uses to face any other dangers.

I hope this answers your question. If you need something more specfic, you can go to the enotes link below or feel free to email us again.