Significance of The Steel Cot Leg

After Mark Petrie unbinds himself from the ropes that Straker has tied him up with, Mark unscrews a steel leg from a cot and uses it as a weapon against Straker. He hits Straker in the head with the cot leg twice, knocking Straker to the floor. When Straker grabs Mark's ankle, Mark smashes Straker's hand with it, beating his hand until Straker finally releases him. Mark is only twelve years old, so he needs a weapon to overpower a fully-grown man. The steel cot leg is a crude weapon, but it works. The steel cot leg symbolizes Mark's ability to survive using little other than his wits.