"As soon as I found the chips, I tried to imagine what the people were like who made them. It was like making a composite sketch for the police. Did they wear deerskin robes? Any eagle feathers in their hair? What about huckleberry stains on their moccasins? One papoose or two?"

Richie finds an unusual Indian bowl that looks like a turtle. Eureka! Richie is sure that he has discovered a lost tribe of turtle people--a tribe that modeled itself on the excellent qualities of the turtle. Richie is sure he will soon be famous. First, however, he has to get the heavy bowl back from the island.

He gets help from his friend, Henny, and from Gil, an old man with an even older boat. They become a modern-day Lewis and Clark expedition, facing one hardship after another, trying to find a plan that works.