"All aboard!" one of the rowers called.
Jack and Annie hurried down the steep riverbank.
They climbed back into the boat.
The crew pushed away from the shore. The boatstarted back through the icy, churning waters of theDelaware River.
Jack was freezing in the sleet and snow. But hedidn't worry about that now. He was thinking insteadabout how they had helped George Washington. Hewas thinking about how they had helped keep historyon its course.
Jack felt great.
When they got to the riverbank, Jack and Anniejumped out of the boat.
"Thanks!" Jack yelled to the rowers.
With the wind at their backs, Jack and Annie tookoff through the blizzard. They ran down the icy bankof the Delaware River.
Thunder rumbled in the snowy sky.
Lightning zigzagged over the woods.
"How will we find the tree house?" cried Annie.
"I don't know!" said Jack. "But don't worry! We'llfind it!"He felt very confident now, after meeting GeorgeWashington. After being thanked by GeorgeWashington!
He and Annie ran on through the rain and thesnow and the sleet.
They ran along the riverbank--until a bright flashof lightning lit up the sky. Then Jack saw it!
The tree house was directly to their left, high in atall tree covered with snow.
"Over there!" he shouted.
Jack and Annie ran toward the edge of the woods.
In the dark, Jack looked up, searching for the treehouse.
Lightning lit the woods again. Jack saw the ropeladder flapping wildly in the wind.
He grabbed it.
"Annie!" he called.
"Here!" she said.
"Let's go!" he said.
They climbed up the swaying ladder and scrambledinto the tree house. They were soaking wet andcovered with slush and snow.
Annie grabbed the Pennsylvania book.
15"I wish we could go there!" she shouted.
The wind blew even harder.
The tree house started to spin.
It spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still. |