Chapter 14 Summary

Mark and Jim take the boat to Vancouver for its annual overhaul, transporting four of the village boys including Gordon to a white school at the same time. The boys are the first from the village to attend a white school and are at once eager and nervous. The older tribal members are sad to see them go, taking it as an omen foretelling the dying of the village. Mark tutors them during the trip on the small nuances of white culture that they are not familiar with, such as common phrases of speech or using a shower. Jim and Mark both give them advice on how to deal with unkind remarks based on their Native American heritage. Once in Vancouver, everyone continues to sleep on the boat, but Mark and Jim show the boys around the city during the day.

During their...