The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

In the morning, Huck knocks on the Welshman’s door. The old man says Injun Joe and his partner escaped, but a posse had been roused and was now searching the woods. Huck describes the two men but begs them not to say he told them. The old man understands his fear, especially when Huck admits that one of the men was Injun Joe. The old man says the men weren’t carrying the box, as Huck had thought, but only tools they were going to use for a burglary. Huck is relieved. Now he and Tom can get the money that night, as long as it’s still in the tavern.

At church, they announce that the two men are still at large. Mrs. Thatcher talks to Mrs. Harper and wonders if Becky is still asleep. Mrs. Harper says Becky didn’t stay the night with them. Aunt Polly says that Tom is also missing. After questioning the congregation, a boy says that Tom and Becky might still be in the cave. Half an hour later, 200 men approach the cave for a search. The next morning, they ask for food and more candles.

The Widow Douglas comes to take care of Huck, who has a fever. She says Huck has the “Lord’s mark.” She has always felt kindly towards him, and she still doesn’t know his role in sparing her from Injun Joe’s retribution.

The searchers go deeper into unexplored areas of the cave but are not hopeful. They find the words “Becky and Tom” (234) written on a wall with candle smoke, along with Becky’s ribbon.

Three days and nights pass. Huck asks the widow if anything has been discovered at the Temperance Tavern. She says yes, assuming that he is asking about the fact that the town has discovered the tavern was still serving liquor. Now the place is closed. After Huck is asleep, the widow whispers that the searchers are running out of hope and strength.

The narrative backtracks to the day that Tom and Becky entered the cave. Once inside, they explore, wandering down a path and becoming separated from the group. They write their names on the wall in soot and enjoy themselves. They make frequent marks so they can retrace their steps. In a large chamber, bats chase them, driving them into an unfamiliar area.

Becky soon notices that she can’t hear the others. Soon they realize that they’re lost. Tom didn’t make enough marks, and the bats are blocking the way they came. Tom begs her not to give up and then blows out her candle to ration their light. Tom says they need to stay by a spring to have water, to give the searchers time to find them. They watch their candle burn out and lose track of time.

While Becky sleeps, Tom uses a kite line and explores some passages, using the line to find his way back. Suddenly, he sees candlelight on the other side of a small pit. He sees Injun Joe’s hand behind a rock, holding the candle. Tom shouts and Injun Joe hurries away in the other direction. Tom doesn’t tell Becky what he saw. Tom explores more as they weaken, but he thinks they are doomed.

St. Petersburg mourns the missing children. Mrs. Thatcher is ill, and Aunt Polly is grief stricken. Near midnight, a bell rings out, along with shouts that they’ve been found. At the Widow Douglas’s house, Tom tells their story, along with many embellishments. He had finally found daylight, which he followed to an exit. When he and Becky left the cave, they were five miles from where they entered. Tom and Becky remain in bed for most of the week, recovering.

Tom hears that Huck is sick. When he visits, Widow Douglas asks him not to mention anything that might upset Huck. As they talk, Tom learns about Injun Joe’s cruel plans for the Widow Douglas. He also learns that the body of Injun Joe’s companion was found in the water, drowned.

A couple of weeks later, Judge Thatcher tells Tom that he has had the entrance to the cave sealed and locked. Tom says that Injun Joe is probably trapped inside.

When they unlock the door to the cave, Injun Joe is just inside. His knife is broken from trying to carve through the door. He had eaten the candle nubs and some bats. They bury him near the mouth of the cave. The stalactite he tried to drink from is now, according to Twain, a popular attraction known as “Injun Joe’s cup” (254). People enjoy Injun Joe’s funeral almost as much as they would have enjoyed his hanging.

Tom tells Huck that he believes the money is in the cave. It was never in the tavern. He says he can get them to it safely, and then they can start a robber gang with the treasure as a foundation. Tom thinks the cave would be an ideal headquarters. Tom shows Huck a cross drawn with soot on the wall. Huck thinks Injun Joe’s ghost is nearby, but Tom says the cross will protect them.

They dig in the clay beneath the cross, uncovering a passage that leads to the treasure box, a cache of weapons, and some shoes. They put the money in bags, but they leave the other supplies. They decide to hide the money in the loft of the widow’s toolshed. However, on their way to hide it, they see the Welshman, who immediately takes them to a celebration party at the Douglas property. Widow Douglas makes them wash and then provides a set of nice clothes for Huck.

Most of the influential characters in the story are at the party. Huck wants to escape because the crowd makes him uneasy. Sid says it’s a party for the Welshman (Mr. Jones) and his sons. Sid says everyone knows Huck followed the robbers to the Douglas property. Sid spoiled the secret before Mr. Jones could tell the group. Tom slaps Sid’s ears and drives him from the room.

Over dinner, Mr. Jones tells the table about Huck’s bravery in protecting the Widow Douglas, and the guests feign surprise. The widow says she’s going to educate Huck and give him a home. Tom says Huck is rich and doesn’t need it. He gets the bag and pours over $12,000 in gold onto the table.

Treasure fever hits the town, and everyone starts digging in so-called haunted houses. The widow and Judge Thatcher lend out the boys’ money at 6% interest, which will earn them each $1 per day. Judge Thatcher is in awe of Tom, and he was moved by the story of him taking Becky’s punishment. He wants Tom to be a great lawyer or soldier and to attend a prestigious military academy.

Huck doesn’t enjoy the attention as much as Tom. Instead, he finds himself dragged into civilized society, and he hates everything about it. He disappears after three weeks, and Tom finds him sleeping in the ruins of a slaughterhouse. Huck tells Tom he can’t go back and that he doesn’t like being rich. Tom says they can’t let him into the robber gang unless he’s respectable, but that it’s Huck’s choice. Huck agrees to go back for a month. He thinks if he can become a good enough robber, the widow will be proud of him.

In a brief closing statement, Twain observes, with bittersweet insight, that Tom’s story will soon become the story of a man, which would not be as fun to read. Tom’s future story would likely revolve around money, increased responsibility, and the further, oppressive integration of Huck into civilized society.