Chapters 21, 22 and 23 Summary

The following week Naomi accompanies Kenji on another adventure and they end up at a lake close to the home of a local eccentric named Rough Lock Bill. As Kenji and Naomi play on the beach, they are approached by the crotchety Rough Lock Bill who wants to know who Kenji's friend is. Naomi is awed by the man's rough demeanor and is barely able to whisper her name. Eventually, Naomi realizes that Rough Lock Bill means her no harm, as he tells Kenji and Naomi a story about the founding of Slocan by Native Indians.

When Rough Lock Bill walks back to his house, Kenji and Naomi climb onto Kenji's rough-hewn raft. The normally timid Naomi rejects her aunt and uncle's warnings about going into the water in favor of this adventure with Kenji. Despite Kenji's promise to not go...