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"I don't know Maybe someday When I'm older," Prudence said

"Older? You're eleven now You'll be a woman soon"

"Let's discuss this later," Rebecca said "After we have time to think about it"

"Fine," Sathe rest of the way to the beach As they neared the Lady Jane, Wendell caht," he said He motioned to a rock on the beach "We have the fulcrum already"

"Fulcrum?"

"That's what it's called"

"How do you know that?"

"Your uncle said so"

"The kid is pretty smart," Uncle Hector said frooo of his ork or not We'll have to give it a trial"

"What about theThere's not et her to shore and ood," Saet out of here Some of us"

She looked at Prudence and Rebecca, but they said nothing They only began to unwrap the netting from the rafter With the help of Wendell, Uncle Hector, and the other younger boys, they et the rafter propped beneath the front of the ship

"Noe have to do this all at once," Wendell said "Once it gets loose, then Mr Delgado can turn on the motor"

Uncle Hector nodded He waded back into the water so he could cliain Once he was on board, he waved to them "Let's do it, kids"

"On the count of three," Samantha said She and the other children took up positions along both sides of the rafter "One…two…three!"

As one they leaned against the rafter, all of theoing!" Saroan, Samantha and the others pushed the rafter all the way down to the ground As Wendell had predicted, the bow of the boat had lifted enough to free it fro for the tide to carry it back out to sea Wendell and Uncle Hector had prepared for this by tying a rope fro of rock That would keep the boat tethered enough so it wouldn't float away

Uncle Hector had disappeared froet the motor started Samantha held her breath as she watched the Lady Jane float farther away, until it strained against its tether "Come on, Uncle Hector," she whispered If this didn't work, their only hope of reaching the ht be swept out to sea and drown "Please, God, let this work"