Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summary

Description

Here you will find a Adventures of Huckleberry Finn summary (Mark Twain's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summary Overview

In a quaint town by the Mississippi River, two boys - Huckleberry Finn, a poor child with an alcoholic father, and Tom Sawyer, a middle-class imaginative boy, stumble upon a robber's treasure. The newfound wealth is kept in a bank for Huck, who is taken in by Widow Douglas, a well-meaning woman with her self-righteous sister, Miss Watson. Despite Huck's initial displeasure with his new respectable life, he stays put for the sake of joining Tom's new gang. However, his alcoholic father reappears demanding Huck's money, resulting in a custody battle. A new judge tries to reform the father, but fails. Angered when Widow Douglas warns him to stay away, Huck's father kidnaps him and confines him in a cabin across the river. Huck endures imprisonment and regular beatings until he fakes his own death and escapes to Jackson’s Island in the Mississippi River, where he encounters Jim, a runaway slave. Despite reservations about the legality and morality of aiding a fugitive, Huck pairs up with Jim on their journey downriver, encountering robbers, narrowly escaping slave hunters, and surviving a steamboat collision. Huck ends up with the Grangerfords, a feuding Southern aristocrat family, while Jim repairs the damaged raft. The duo then rescues two men pursued by bandits, who claim to be a displaced English duke and a long-lost French heir. Despite their obvious deception, Huck and Jim are forced to continue with them down the river. The charlatans commit numerous scams, culminating in selling Jim as a runaway slave. Huck locates Jim and resolves to free him, ending up in the household of Tom Sawyer’s aunt and uncle, who mistake him for Tom. Tom arrives, pretending to be his younger brother and devising a dangerous plan to free Jim. After unnecessary complications, they free Jim, but Tom is shot in the process. Jim sacrifices his freedom to nurse Tom, but it is revealed that Jim had been freed via Miss Watson's will. Tired of civilization, Huck plans to set out for the West.

notice and explanatory

The narrative starts off with a Warning from a character named G. G., who happens to be a high-ranking military officer. The Warning insists that readers should not attempt to decipher any hidden meanings, morals, or storylines within the novel, warning of assorted penalties for those who do. Following the Warning, there's an explanatory note penned by the Author. The note clarifies the careful detailing of dialects in the novel, which accurately represents the unique speech patterns of people dwelling along the Mississippi. Any reader who thinks that the characters in the book are unsuccessful attempts at sounding similar is simply misunderstood.

chapter 1

The story starts with the protagonist, Huckleberry Finn, pointing out that he has appeared in another book, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by "Mr. Mark Twain." Huck doesn't mind if the reader is unfamiliar with him, and he admits that Twain's previous book was mostly factual, with a few “stretchers” or lies, a common practice among everyone except a handful of ladies, including Tom’s Aunt Polly and the Widow Douglas. In the finale of Tom Sawyer, Tom and Huck had discovered a treasure trove of gold hidden by bandits in a cave. The children each pocketed $6,000. Judge Thatcher, a local magistrate, placed the money in a trust that now generates a daily interest of one dollar. Huck was adopted by the Widow Douglas, who attempted to civilize him. However, Huck chafed under the restraints of respectability and fled, only to return because Tom promised him a spot in his new gang of robbers if he agreed to live with the Widow. The Widow Douglas is distressed over her inability to reform Huck, who finds her rituals, including praying before eating and her attempts to teach him about Moses, tedious. Huck has no interest in the biblical figure because he's dead. Although the Widow forbids smoking, she's fine with snuff, a habit she practices. Her sister, Miss Watson, tutors Huck in spelling and he learns to read. Huck feels oppressed by the Widow and Miss Watson's constant admonishments. Huck rebelliously declares he'd prefer to go to hell for a change of scenery, much to everyone's shock. He decides not to strive for heaven but keeps this to himself to prevent causing more commotion. When he learns that Tom won't be going to heaven, Huck feels relieved, wanting to stick with his friend. Following a prayer led by Miss Watson one night, Huck feels so desolate that he wishes he were dead. The nocturnal sounds of nature unsettle him. In a moment of fright, he accidentally kills a spider, considering it a bad omen. Hearing a "me-yow" and responding with the same, Huck climbs out the window and discovers Tom Sawyer waiting for him.

chapter 2

Huck and Tom stealthily navigate the Widow’s garden, but Huck's stumble over a root alerts Jim, one of Miss Watson’s slaves. They try to remain unnoticed, but Huck's sudden itching gives them away. Jim initially vows to investigate the noise, but soon falls asleep. Tom, eager for mischief, wants to tie Jim up. Huck protests, so instead, Tom plays a prank by positioning Jim’s hat on a tree branch overhead and pilfers candles from the kitchen. Later, Jim attributes the relocated hat to witches and spins a tale that earns him fame among the slave community. He wears the nickle left by Tom as a devil-charm capable of curing ailments. Huck cynically observes Jim's inflated ego from his newfound fame. In another development, Tom and Huck, along with a few friends, boat to a cavern. Here, Tom forms a band of thieves called “Tom Sawyer’s Gang” and they all take a blood oath. The oath includes a clause to kill the family of anyone who betrays the gang. However, they make an exception for Huck, who only has a rarely present drunken father, by letting him offer Miss Watson instead. They also agree to kidnap and hold people "ransom," even though they are unsure of what it means. Tom suggests it involves keeping captives until they die. Tom also states that women captives aren’t to be killed but charmed at the hideout. When a homesick member threatens to spill their secrets, Tom bribes him with a nickel. They all agree to reunite, but not on Sundays, respecting religious custom. Huck returns home and slips into bed just as dawn breaks.

chapter 3

Miss Watson scolds Huck for soiling his new clothes and tries to teach him about prayer. When his prayers aren't answered, he gives up on it, earning him criticism from Miss Watson. Widow Douglas, however, explains that prayer is about spiritual gifts like helping others selflessly. Unable to see the benefits of these gifts, Huck decides to drop the subject. The contradictory descriptions of God by the two women confuses Huck into thinking there are two gods, and he wishes to follow Widow Douglas's God, despite doubting his own virtue. Rumors begin to swirl about the death of Huck's father, who has been absent for a year. A cadaver of a 'ragged' person is found in the river, leading to speculation that it's Huck's father. Initially, Huck feels a sense of relief as his father was an abusive alcoholic. Only later does he realize that the body is that of a woman dressed as a man, which causes him to worry about his father's potential return. After spending a month in Tom's gang, the boys, including Huck, decide to leave due to the lack of genuine robbery and killing. Huck reminisces about an elaborate game of Tom's involving a make-believe caravan of Arabs and Spaniards. The game ended in disappointment when it turned out to be a Sunday-school picnic, not a caravan. The boys' raid on the picnic yields only some doughnuts and jam, and a lot of trouble. Following another failed experiment of rubbing old lamps and rings to invoke a genie, as suggested by Tom, Huck concludes that most of Tom's tales are fabrications.

chapter 4

Over time, Huck adapts to his new existence and even starts to improve academically. One chilly morning, he spots boot prints in the snow near his home. The heel print contains the symbol of two crossed nails, a sign meant to keep the devil at bay. Recognizing this mark instantly, Huck rushes to Judge Thatcher and sells him his fortune, the money he and Tom found in their previous adventure, which the Judge was overseeing, for a single dollar. In the evening, Huck seeks out Jim, who boasts about having a large, magical ox hairball. Huck shares with Jim about discovering his father's footprints and his curiosity about his father's intentions. To get the hairball to "speak," Jim asks for money, and Huck hands over a fake quarter. Jim then conveys that Huck's father is being influenced by two angels, one black and one white, one evil and one virtuous. The outcome of this struggle remains unknown, but Huck's safety is assured for the time being. According to the hairball, Huck will experience both joy and sadness, marry a needy woman followed by a wealthy one, and should avoid water as it's foretold to be the cause of his demise. That same night, Huck comes face-to-face with his father in his room.

chapter 5

Pap, a terrifying figure in his late forties, has a sickening pale complexion. Upon seeing Huck's formal attire, he questions if Huck now sees himself superior to him and pledges to humble him. He also threatens Widow Douglas to stop interfering with his affairs, expressing anger over the fact that Huck is the first in their family who knows how to read. When inquiring about Huck's wealth and being told there's none, Pap labels Huck a liar. He then snatches a dollar from Huck, which he got from Judge Thatcher, to buy liquor. The following day, Pap, in an intoxicated state, confronts Judge Thatcher demanding Huck's money. Judge Thatcher and Widow Douglas try but fail to gain Huck's custody after the town's new judge stands against separating a father and son. Subsequently, Pap's alcohol-fueled misbehavior lands him in jail. The new judge, in an attempt to reform him, brings Pap into his house. However, the judge and his wife's emotional and preachy behavior barely make an impact. Although Pap pledges to amend his ways with tears in his eyes, he soon succumbs to drunkenness again. The judge hence concludes, the only way to reform Pap might be through force, using a shotgun.

chapter 6

Pap takes legal action against Judge Thatcher to obtain Huck's wealth and intimidates Huck for going to school. Despite the threats, Huck persists in his studies, partly to irritate Pap. Pap indulges in repeated bouts of alcoholism, and one day he captures Huck, imprisoning him in a remote cabin in the woods on the Illinois bank. While Pap is outside, Huck comes across an old saw and plans his escape from both his father and Widow Douglas by creating a hole in the cabin wall. However, Pap returns just as Huck is about to gain his freedom. Pap displays discontent with Judge Thatcher for stalling the court proceedings, which is hindering him from acquiring Huck’s fortune. Despite having favourable chances of obtaining the money, Pap fears he might lose custody of Huck. He continues his rant about a biracial man living in the town, expressing his disgust that the man has voting rights in Ohio and can't legally be enslaved until he spends six months in Missouri. Eventually, Pap awakens from a drunken stupor, threatening Huck with a knife and labeling him the “Angel of Death,” but stops when he collapses. Armed with a rifle, Huck keeps a watchful eye on his unconscious father.

chapter 7

Pap, oblivious to his previous inebriated fury, instructs Huck to examine the river for any captured fish. Huck discovers an unattended canoe on the river, which he stashes away in the forest. With Pap gone for the day, Huck completes his escape plan from the cabin, loading it with food, utensils, and other valuable items. He cleverly masks the escape route he created in the wall then sets off to kill a wild pig. To create a believable ruse, Huck uses an ax to shatter the cabin door, allows pig blood to pool on the floor, and arranges the scene to suggest a violent robbery that resulted in his death. He then retreats to the canoe, awaiting moonrise for his journey to Jackson's Island. Falling asleep briefly, he awakens to Pap rowing past. Once clear, he discreetly embarks downriver, reaching Jackson's Island without attracting attention.

chapter 8

The following day, a ferry filled with locals, including Pap, Judge Thatcher, his daughter Bessie, Tom Sawyer and his aunt, along with a handful of Huck’s friends, sail past Jackson Island. They're searching for Huck, who they believe has been murdered. To find his body, they fire cannonballs into the water and drop bread loaves filled with mercury. From his hiding spot, Huck snags a loaf and enjoys it, but feels remorse that his absence is causing distress to Widow Douglas and others who love him. In the following days, Huck enjoys a serene solitude on the island, surviving on berries and fish, with freedom to smoke as he pleases. He spends nights counting ferryboats and observing the peaceful river. On day four, he ventures out and to his delight, stumbles upon Jim. Initially, Jim mistakes Huck for a ghost. Huck is relieved to have company on the island, but is taken aback when Jim reveals he's on the run. Jim had overheard Miss Watson considering selling him to a slave trader for $800, which would mean being separated from his family. Jim didn't wait to see what she decided. The two engage in discussions about superstitions and Jim's failed ventures, most of which were frauds. Despite his losses, Jim isn't disheartened as he believes his hairy arms and chest are a symbol of forthcoming wealth, as per his superstitions.

chapter 9

Huck and Jim move their canoe and supplies into a spacious cave on the island for a potential hideout from visitors. Jim foresees a storm, which indeed arrives shortly, forcing them to take shelter in the cave. A flooded river brings along a house, floating past their island. Inside the house, Jim and Huck discover a man, shot in the back. Jim shields Huck from viewing the man's "ghastly" face. They scavenge some items from the houseboat before Huck directs Jim to hide in the canoe's bottom for secrecy, ensuring their safe return to the island.

chapter 10

Huck contemplates the deceased man, but Jim cautions against such thoughts, claiming they bring bad fortune. Jim believes Huck has already attracted misfortune by touching a shed snake skin. True to Jim's words, misfortune strikes when Huck's prank goes wrong. He places a dead rattlesnake near Jim's sleeping spot and its companion arrives, biting Jim. Jim's leg swells but recovers after a few days. Later, Huck ventures to the shore for news, disguised as a girl with a dress they had acquired from the houseboat. He practices his feminine act before heading to the Illinois coast. Huck finds a woman, approximately forty years old, in an old, deserted hut. She seems new to the area, which relieves Huck as he knows she won't recognize him. Nonetheless, he remains careful to maintain his female guise.

chapter 11

Huck gains entry into a local woman's hut, presenting himself as "Sarah Williams" from Hookerville. The lady, quite talkative, brings up Huck's alleged murder, mentioning that his father and Jim were suspected. Pap, after spending the judge's money on booze instead of locating Jim, becomes the prime suspect and leaves town before a mob can lynch him. A $200 reward is now on offer for Pap, while Jim has a $300 bounty on his head. Noticing smoke on Jackson's Island, the lady believes Jim might be hiding there and instructs her husband to investigate with a companion and a firearm. Upon querying Huck's name, he responds, “Mary Williams.” To explain the discrepancy, he claims that his full name is “Sarah Mary Williams.” The woman tests Huck's authenticity by getting him to attempt to kill a rat with a piece of lead. His near-miss only raises her doubts. She finally urges him to confess his true male identity, reassuring him that she wouldn't report a runaway apprentice. Huck introduces himself as George Peters, an apprentice to a cruel farmer. After testing his knowledge on farming, she allows him to leave, advising him to seek her out, Mrs. Judith Loftus, in case of any predicaments. Back on the island, Huck creates a misleading campfire to distract anyone searching for them. He rushes back to the cave and alerts Jim, insisting they must move. They grab their belongings and drift away on a raft they discovered during a flood.

chapter 12

Huck and Jim create a makeshift home on their raft, navigating down the river under the cover of darkness and staying out of sight during the day. The bright lights of St. Louis pass them by on the fifth evening. They live comfortably, procuring food through purchase, theft, or hunting. Despite the need, they feel guilty about stealing and decide to abandon some items as a compensatory moral gesture. During a fierce storm, they stumble upon a destroyed steamboat. Despite Jim's protests, Huck decides to explore the wreckage for loot and experience an exciting adventure, much like Tom Sawyer would. On the steamboat, Huck eavesdrops on two criminals planning to murder a third so he can’t reveal their secrets. In the end, one criminal convinces the other to let the third man drown with the sinking ship. After the criminals depart, Huck finds Jim and insists they need to release the criminals' boat to prevent their escape. Jim shocks Huck with the news that their own raft has drifted away.

chapter 13

Huck and Jim approach the robbers' vessel. The bandits stash their stolen goods in the boat and depart to extract more loot from their victim inside the ship. Silently, Huck and Jim commandeer the robbers' boat and drift away. A pang of guilt hits Huck as he thinks of the marooned robbers, considering he could also turn into a criminal someday. Upon locating their raft, they pause for Huck to go to land for help. Huck stumbles upon a watchman of a ferry on land and convinces him that his family is stuck on the wreck of the steamboat, Walter Scott. He spins a vivid tale about his family's predicament to persuade the watchman to launch a rescue mission. Huck feels a sense of accomplishment for his cunning, believing the Widow Douglas would have commended his act of aiding the “rapscallions and dead beats.” Subsequently, Jim and Huck sink the robbers' boat and retire for the night. In the meantime, the wreck continues to drift downstream. Despite the ferryman's attempt to check the wreckage, it's apparent the bandits didn't survive.

chapter 14

Huck and Jim stumble upon various items in the robbers' loot from the Walter Scott, including books, clothes, and cigars. As they rest in the forest, anticipating the night to continue their journey, Huck reads from the discovered books. They chat about their so-called adventures, with Jim expressing his distaste for them due to the potential risks they pose to his life and freedom. Huck shares stories about kings, derived from the books and his own concocted tales, which leaves Jim astounded. The only king Jim knows is King Solomon; he reckons him a fool for his decision to split a baby into two. Despite Huck's efforts, Jim remains unconvinced. Huck also mentions the dauphin, the offspring of the executed King Louis XVI of France - who Huck erroneously refers to as the “dolphin” and who is presumed to be aimlessly wandering around America. Jim refuses to accept that French people don't speak English, despite Huck's explanation. Huck attempts to dispute this with Jim, but eventually surrenders.

chapter 15

As Huck and Jim near the Ohio River, they become separated during a foggy evening. Huck is in a canoe and loses his bearings due to the dense fog, leading him astray from Jim and the raft. After floating alone for a while, he finally finds Jim asleep on the raft. To play a prank, Huck convinces Jim that he'd imagined their entire separation. Jim shares his 'dream', which he interprets as an allegory of their journey to freedom. However, Jim soon spots the mess of debris and branches on the raft, evidence of it drifting aimlessly, and realizes Huck tricked him. He expresses his anger at being fooled, especially after worrying over Huck's safety. Feeling remorseful, Huck apologizes sincerely, regretting his prank on Jim.

chapter 16

Jim and Huck express concern about missing Cairo, a gateway to the free states, due to its location near the Ohio River. Huck grapples with guilt over aiding Jim's escape from Miss Watson, his legal owner who has been kind to Huck. Jim, however, dreams of reaching the free states, earning enough to purchase his wife and kids' freedom, or enlisting abolitionists to free them if their owners refuse. Upon sighting what they believe is Cairo, Huck explores in a canoe, secretly intending to betray Jim. Hearing Jim declare him his sole friend softens Huck's resolve. Unexpectedly, Huck encounters men wanting to inspect his raft for fugitive slaves. He dupes them into thinking his family, supposedly suffering from smallpox, occupies the raft. Fearing contagion, the men retreat, instructing Huck to proceed downstream and seek aid by lying about his family's sickness. They leave behind forty dollars out of compassion. Guilt-ridden for deceiving them about Jim, Huck understands he'd feel equally guilty if he'd given Jim away, leading him to decide to ignore morals in the future, favoring convenience instead. As they continue downstream, passing several towns, worry sets in that they've unknowingly bypassed Cairo in the fog. They pause to rest and decide to row upstream with their canoe, only to find it gone by morning. They blame the disappearance and their ongoing misfortune on the snakeskin from Jackson’s Island. Later, their raft is destroyed by a steamboat, and they narrowly escape, albeit separately. On land, Huck finds himself trapped by a pack of dogs.

chapter 17

Huck is saved from dogs by a man and introduces himself as "George Jackson." His hosts initially think he might be from the Shepherdson family, but eventually rule this out. The woman of the house instructs a boy, Buck, who's around Huck's age, to provide him with dry clothes. Buck expresses his hostility for the Shepherdsons and attempts to share a riddle with Huck, who fails to grasp the idea of riddles. Buck insists Huck should stay with him, promising a good time. Meanwhile, Huck fabricates a detailed tale about his orphanhood. Buck’s family, the Grangerfords, invite Huck to reside with them indefinitely. Huck naively appreciates the house and its comically gaudy decor, particularly the unintentionally hilarious sentimental art and poetry of Emmeline, a late daughter. As Huck settles into life with the Grangerfords, he reflects that "nothing couldn't be better" than his current situation in the welcoming abode.

chapter 18

Huck is impressed by Colonel Grangerford, the estate's owner, and his perceived refinement. The colonel is a friendly individual, owning an expansive property and over a hundred slaves. The Grangerford offspring include Bob, Tom, Charlotte, Sophia, and Buck. All are strikingly attractive. Buck attempts to murder a young man named Harney Shepherdson but fails. Buck tells Huck that the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons, an adjacent family, are locked in a familial dispute. The cause of the feud is forgotten, but two lives have been lost in the past year. The two feuding families attend the same church, maintaining their weapons even as the sermon on fraternal love is given. Sophia Grangerford asks Huck to fetch a Bible from the church one day. She is thrilled to find a note marked “Half-past two” inside. Later, Huck’s slave helper brings him deep into the swamp, claiming to show him some water-moccasins, where Huck unexpectedly meets Jim. Jim followed Huck the night they were shipwrecked but kept quiet to avoid being captured. Jim had confronted some slaves to reclaim the raft, asserting it belonged to his white master. The following day, Huck discovers that Sophia Grangerford has eloped with Harney Shepherdson. In the forest, Huck stumbles upon Buck and another Grangerford in a shootout with the Shepherdsons. Both Grangerfords are slain. Distraught, Huck runs to Jim and the raft, and they swiftly depart downstream.

chapter 19

As Huck and Jim drift down the river, Huck encounters two men ashore escaping from trouble. He rescues them by taking them further down the river. The older man is around seventy, bald with whiskers, while the younger man is about thirty. Their clothes are in a shabby state. They are strangers but share similar circumstances. The younger man used to sell a harmful teeth cleaning paste, leading to his escape from an angry mob. The older man ran a sobriety revival meeting but had to run when it was discovered he was a drinker. Listening to each other's tales, they decide to collaborate, as they are both con artists. The younger man claims he's a destitute English noble, convincing Huck and Jim to serve him as if he were a king. The older man then discloses that he is the dauphin, the missing son of King Louis XVI of France. Huck and Jim are then made to serve and address them as “Duke” and “Your Majesty.” Huck soon grasps that they are deceivers, but to avoid conflict, he keeps his knowledge to himself.

chapter 20

The duke and dauphin question if Jim is an escaped slave, leading Huck to fabricate a story about his own orphanhood and the necessity of nocturnal travel due to people questioning Jim's status. In spite of a storm, Huck and Jim yield their beds to the pair for the night. The next day, the duke persuades the dauphin to enact a Shakespearean play in the ensuing town. On arrival, they discover the town deserted for a large, energetic religious gathering in the woods. The dauphin deceives the crowd by claiming to be a redeemed pirate turned missionary, which earns him over eighty dollars in donations and numerous kisses from the young women. While the town is vacant, the duke capitalizes on the opportunity by running the abandoned printing office. He profits almost ten dollars from print work and newspaper ads. He also creates a leaflet promising a reward for Jim's capture. This allows them to journey unrestricted during the day, as they can simply claim any inquirers that Jim is their prisoner. Meanwhile, Jim naively attempts to engage the dauphin in French conversation. However, the self-proclaimed French royal pretends he has forgotten his native language.

chapter 21

After a night of heavy drinking, the duke and the dauphin rehearse scenes from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Richard III on their raft. The duke attempts to recite Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" soliloquy, but his version is a mishmash of lines from different parts of Hamlet and even some from Macbeth. Despite this, Huck admires the duke's performance. Later, they visit a sleepy Arkansas town populated by idle young men who debate over chewing tobacco. Huck's depiction of the town is both comical and bizarre. The duke advertises their theatre show, during which Huck witnesses an unruly drunk getting shot by Sherburn, a man he had disrespected. The shooting occurs in front of the victim’s daughter, leading to a crowd gathering around the dying man before they march off with intentions to lynch Sherburn.

chapter 22

A mob advances on Sherburn's residence, damaging his front fence, but retreats rapidly when Sherburn appears atop his porch with a rifle. A tense quiet follows before Sherburn scolds them for their cowardliness and herd behavior. He asserts that nobody will dare to lynch him during daylight, effectively dispersing the humbled mob. Later, Huck attends a circus, described as a brilliant event featuring a sharp-witted clown. In one act, an actor pretends to be inebriated and struggles to stay atop a horse, much to the crowd's delight. Huck, however, finds it hard to watch the man seemingly in jeopardy. That evening, the duke's performance attracts a meager audience of twelve, who heckle throughout the show. The duke subsequently advertises another show, The King’s Cameleopard [Giraffe] or The Royal Nonesuch, restricting admission to adults only.

chapter 23

The Royal Nonesuch performance draws in a full house. The dauphin, dressed only in body paint and odd accessories, keeps the audience roaring with laughter. However, when the show ends prematurely, the audience nearly assaults the duke and the dauphin. Embarrassed, they decide to trick the rest of the town into attending the comedy by praising it. Thus, the second night also sees a packed house. Predicting the third night's crowd comprises those seeking revenge, the duke and Huck flee to the raft before the performance. Over the course of three nights, they've made $465. Jim is taken aback by the royal pair's "rapscallion" behavior, which Huck defends by citing questionable historical examples of nobility. Unwilling to reveal that the duke and the dauphin are imposters, Huck remains silent. During his night watches, Jim grieves for his wife and children. Despite seeming "unnatural" to Huck, he realizes that Jim loves his family like any white man would. A distant noise reminds Jim of when he punished his daughter Lizabeth for not responding to his commands, unaware that scarlet fever had rendered her deaf. This memory deeply upsets him.

chapter 24

As the duke and dauphin prepare to deceive another town, Jim voices his fear about remaining hidden and tied up in the raft. To compromise, the duke disguises Jim as a "Sick Arab", using a stage robe and face paint, ensuring his safety when the others leave. The dauphin, in new clothes, seeks a grand entrance into the upcoming town with Huck, boarding a nearby steamboat. On the steamboat, the dauphin meets a chatty young man who shares the story of a recently passed local, Peter Wilks. Wilks, having drawn up his will to leave his property to his distant brothers in England, died before they could arrive. The young man, who was travelling to South America, unwittingly provides the dauphin with enough information about the Wilks family for exploitation. Once in the town, the duke and dauphin pretend to be Wilks's brothers grieving his death, with the dauphin faking sign language. The whole charade leaves Huck feeling deeply ashamed for humanity.

chapter 25

The villagers gather at the Wilks residence as the three nieces of Wilks, in tears, welcome the duke and the dauphin, presuming them to be their long-lost uncles from England. The entire town also starts weeping. The sight repulses Huck, who finds the spectacle "disgusting." According to Wilks' letter, his nieces are to receive his house and $3,000, while his brothers are to get an additional $3,000 and property worth twice as much. After locating Wilks' money in the basement—just as the letter had mentioned—the duke and the dauphin count the money in private. They add $415 of their own when they find that it falls short of the expected $6,000 from the letter. They then publicly hand over the total amount to the Wilks girls, much to the astonishment of the spectators. However, Doctor Robinson, a close acquaintance of the late Wilks, accuses the duke and the dauphin of being con artists, criticizing their poorly disguised accents. He pleads with Mary Jane, the eldest of the Wilks girls, to dismiss the two as impostors. In response, Mary Jane entrusts the dauphin with the $6,000 to manage as he deems appropriate.

chapter 26

The imposter king secures his stay at the Wilks residence. During dinner with Joanna - the youngest Wilks sister, also known as “the hare-lip” due to a birth defect, Huck's knowledge of England is put to test. His inaccuracies, such as claiming to be from Sheffield and the pseudo-king being a Protestant minister, pile up and Joanna inquires whether he's simply making things up. The eldest sisters, Mary Jane and Susan, reprimand Joanna for her lack of respect towards their guest and she promptly apologizes. Huck is filled with guilt for the innocent sisters being tricked and decides to reclaim their money. He goes into the fraudsters' room to find the money but quickly hides when they arrive. The duke is keen to leave town immediately, but the fake king persuades him to stay until they've drained the family's wealth. Once they exit the room, Huck discovers the $6,000 in gold, stows it in his sleeping nook, and secretly leaves in the dead of night.

chapter 27

Huck stows the bag of cash in Peter Wilks's coffin, but Mary Jane's entrance, sobbing, into the room prevents him from retrieving it. His concern grows about the money's fate. At the funeral, a commotion from a dog in the basement interrupts the proceedings. The mortician leaves briefly and returns after a noticeable "whack" noise from below, announcing to all that the dog had found a rat. However, Huck's worries intensify as he witnesses the mortician seal the coffin, not having checked its contents, leaving the money's end uncertain. He contemplates alerting Mary Jane via letter after leaving the town, suggesting a re-opening of the coffin. The dauphin, under the guise of taking the Wilks girls to England, auctions off the estate and slaves, resulting in the tearful separation of a slave mother from her two sons. This saddens the Wilks women. Huck, however, clings to the hope that the family will be reunited once the impostors are revealed. When the swindlers question him about the missing money, Huck successfully convinces them that the Wilks' slaves took it.

chapter 28

Huck wakes up to find Mary Jane weeping due to the slave family's separation. Overcome by her sorrow, Huck impulsively reassures her of their reunion in less than a fortnight. An elated Mary Jane demands an explanation, putting Huck in an uncomfortable spot as he isn't used to telling the truth when in a fix. Nonetheless, he discloses the truth to Mary Jane but requests her to stay at a friend's place until nightfall to allow him to escape, as Jim's fate is intertwined with his. He also advises her to avoid her "uncles" as they might suspect something from her innocent look. Leaving her a note with the money's location, he departs, with Mary Jane promising to keep him in her prayers. Huck confesses that despite never seeing Mary Jane again, he often reminisces about her. Shortly after her departure, Huck runs into Susan and Joanna and convinces them that their sister went to visit an ill friend. Intrigued, Joanna interrogates him but he shrewdly silences them. Later that day, an auction of the family's belongings is abruptly halted by an uproar. Two men among the crowd claim to be the genuine Harvey and William Wilks.

chapter 29

Genuine Harvey Wilks, with a legitimate British accent, recounts the misfortunes that delayed him and his mute brother William: misplaced luggage and a broken arm that prevented William from sign language. Doctor Robinson insists that the duke and dauphin are impostors and organizes a tavern trial. The supposed relatives draw doubt when they can't show the $6,000 from the Wilks' estate. A lawyer, who was a friend of the dead man, tests the duke, dauphin, and the real Harvey by asking them to provide handwriting specimens. The lawyer matches these with previous letters from Harvey, revealing the impostors. Still, the dauphin doesn't admit defeat, blaming the duke for deliberately altering his script. Since William, who typically writes for Harvey, can't perform due to his injury, it's hard to confirm the authentic Wilks brothers' identities. Harvey attempts to resolve the confusion by revealing a tattoo on his brother's chest and asking the undertaker for support. However, disparities arise between the dauphin and Harvey's descriptions of the tattoo, and the undertaker shocks everyone by declaring there was no tattoo. The crowd demands justice against the four men, but the lawyer suggests a grave inspection for the tattoo. The mob drags the four claimants and Huck to the gravesite. They find the $6,000 gold in the coffin, causing chaos. Amidst the pandemonium, Huck slips away. He passes the Wilks residence, glimpses a light in the upstairs window, and fondly thinks of Mary Jane. Huck procures a canoe, reaches the raft, and he and Jim depart. Huck's delight on the raft is short-lived when he spots the duke and the dauphin in a boat-coming towards them.

chapter 30

The false king is on the verge of choking Huck due to his fury over Huck's abandonment, yet he is halted by the duke. They elaborate on their escape following the discovery of the gold. Both the duke and the fraudulent king suspect each other of stashing the gold in the coffin with the intention of secretly retrieving it later. They are close to fighting but ultimately reconcile and drift off to sleep.

chapter 31

The group continues their river journey, aiming to avoid any fall-out from the duke and dauphin's scams. Despite numerous attempts, their schemes yield no success. Secret talks between the two con men spark fear in Huck and Jim, who plot to abandon them when possible. Upon reaching a town, the duke, dauphin, and Huck disembark to scope the area. A brawl at a local pub presents Huck the opportunity to flee. Returning to the raft, he finds Jim missing. A local boy informs Huck that Jim was identified as a runaway from a deceptive handbill, and was sold for forty dollars to a farmer named Silas Phelps. Huck deduces that the dauphin was the one who turned Jim in. He contemplates informing Tom Sawyer about Jim's whereabouts but realizes Miss Watson would likely sell Jim. Acknowledging that aiding a slave would tarnish his reputation, Huck views this dilemma as divine punishment. Though he attempts to pray for forgiveness, he can't pray earnestly. He pens a letter to Miss Watson, but after recalling his time with Jim, he decides to risk damnation and resolves to free Jim from slavery. Donning his best clothes, Huck sets off to find Silas Phelps, Jim's captor. On his way, he runs into the duke, who's advertising The Royal Nonesuch. When questioned, Huck fabricates a tale about failing to find Jim and the raft. The duke slips up, revealing Jim's actual location at the Phelps farm, but quickly corrects himself and misdirects Huck to a location forty miles away, insisting on a three-day trip.

chapter 32

Huck lands at the Phelps’s residence, hoping to rescue his captured friend, Jim. He is met with hostility by a group of dogs but is saved by a slave woman. He's then warmly greeted by Sally, the white lady of the house, who mistakes him for her nephew, Tom. She inquires about his delay, to which Huck, seizing the chance to pose as Tom, blames a steamboat cylinder head malfunction. When she asks if anyone was injured, Huck states that no one was, except a Black person. Sally finds this outcome "lucky." Huck doubts his ability to maintain his Tom disguise. However, the warm welcome from Sally's husband, Silas, reveals they are Tom Sawyer's relatives, who happens to be Huck's close friend. Hearing a steamboat in the distance, Huck goes to the docks under the pretense of retrieving his luggage, but his real intention is to notify Tom should he be on the boat.

chapter 33

Huck unexpectedly encounters Tom's wagon on the road. Tom initially mistakes Huck for a ghost, thinking he was killed in St. Petersburg. He is eventually convinced otherwise and surprisingly agrees to assist Huck in freeing Jim. This shocks Huck, who loses some respect for Tom due to his readiness to defy societal norms. Reaching the Phelps residence, where Huck is staying, Tom arrives half an hour later. The remote family is pleased by the arrival of another visitor. Tom introduces himself as William Thompson from Ohio, on his way to visit a nearby uncle. During dinner, he impulsively kisses his aunt, nearly earning a slap for his perceived rudeness. Undeterred, he feigns being his own half-brother, Sid. The boys anticipate a conversation about the escapee slave believed to be on the Phelps' property, but no mention is made. However, when the idea of attending a passing show—the duke and dauphin's—is suggested, Silas mentions being warned by "the runaway" that the show is a sham. That evening, Huck and Tom quietly leave the house. They notice a crowd of townsfolk chasing the tarred and feathered duke and dauphin out of town. Huck's resentment for the two men dissipates and he feels sorry for them. His observation, “Human beings can be awful cruel to one another,” encapsulates his feelings. Huck concludes that having a conscience is a burden as it induces guilt irrespective of one's actions—a sentiment Tom concurs with.

chapter 34

Tom unveils his plan to me, immediately outshining mine in flair, promising to liberate Jim just as effectively, but also potentially leading to our demise. Earlier, Tom had spotted a Black man carrying meals to a shed on the Phelps' land, and he astutely surmises that Jim is imprisoned there. He dismisses my straightforward idea of pilfering the shed key and freeing Jim under the cover of darkness as lacking drama. Instead, he concocts an audacious scheme which, in my admission, is much more theatrical—possibly even fatal for us. I find it baffling that Tom, a respected figure, is risking his reputation to assist a fleeing slave. Tom and I convince Jim’s guardian, a superstitious slave, to grant us access to Jim. When Jim exclaims in surprise, we maintain our cover by fooling the guardian into blaming witches. We pledge to tunnel Jim out and start planning.

chapter 35

Tom, upset by the lack of measures taken by Silas Phelps to secure Jim, declares that he and Huck must create their own obstacles for Jim's escape. He insists on sawing Jim's chain instead of simply removing it from the bedpost, citing that it's the customary method in books. He lists several other requirements for a successful jailbreak, like a rope ladder, a moat, and a shirt for Jim to record his experiences, presumably with his own blood. He even suggests the extreme idea of cutting Jim's leg to get him off the chains. However, due to time constraints, they decide to use large knives to dig Jim out. Despite his elaborate plan involving theft, Tom reprimands Huck for pilfering a watermelon from the slaves' garden and forces him to compensate the slaves with a dime.

chapter 36

In the dead of night, Tom and Huck, unable to persist with their knife-digging, opt for pick-axes instead. They collect candlesticks, spoons, and tin plates the following day. Tom suggests that Jim could use these items to inscribe his captivity tale on a tin plate and toss it outside for everyone to see, akin to the stories in Tom's books. When they finally reach Jim through their tunnel, he is overjoyed. He shares that Sally and Silas paid him a visit and conducted a prayer. Despite his confusion over their intricate plan, Jim consents to participate. Tom persuades Jim's guard, Nat, plagued by fear of witches, that a "witch pie" is his only salvation. They intend to incorporate a rope ladder into the pie as per Tom's scheme.

chapter 37

Aunt Sally grows frustrated over the disappearance of a shirt, candles, and sheets that Huck and Tom have pilfered for their scheme. She blames everyone except the boys, even suspecting rats for the theft. To add to the confusion, the boys surreptitiously seal up the house's ratholes, baffling Uncle Silas who later tries to do the same. The boys further mystify Sally by repeatedly taking and replacing sheets and spoons, causing her to lose count. Despite the ordeal, they manage to bake the “witch pie” and deliver it to Jim.

chapter 38

Tom directs Jim to etch an emblem and melancholic phrases onto the shed wall, according to what's written in the books. Despite the difficulty, they fashion pens from spoons and a candlestick. Tom's created emblem incites unintentional laughter, but his disappointment surfaces as the wall is wooden, not stone. They try to pilfer a millstone, too big for them, they need Jim's help. Huck pointedly observes Tom's knack for overseeing as others labor. Tom suggests Jim tame a rattlesnake or rat in the shack, then pressurizes him to cultivate a flower nourished by his tears. Jim voices his disagreement towards Tom's unnecessary complications, but Tom counters that these plans offer chances for heroism.

chapter 39

Huck and Tom fill Jim's shed with captured rats and snakes, unintentionally causing a pest infestation in the Phelps house. Aunt Sally becomes distressed by the chaos, while Jim's shed is overcrowded with creatures. Uncle Silas, yet to receive a response from the alleged plantation Jim fled from, decides to publicize Jim's capture in the New Orleans and St. Louis newspapers, risking exposure to Miss Watson. Tom, aiming to upset Silas's plans and following adventure book protocols, starts sending anonymous letters warning the Phelpses of impending danger. These letters alarm the family. Tom's final letter, posing as a repentant gangster, warns of a planned attempt to free Jim. The supposed gangster, claiming to be newly religious, provides details on how the non-existent criminals intend to take Jim.

chapter 40

After dinner, Tom and Huck are sent to bed by a jumpy Aunt Sally and Uncle Silas due to a puzzling letter. That night, Huck sees fifteen anxious local farmers, armed with guns, convening in the house's main room. He rushes to warn Jim and Tom in the shed, but the presence of armed men only fuels Tom's excitement. Abruptly, the men assault the shed. Amidst the chaos, Tom, Huck, and Jim make their getaway through a hole in the wall. As they're climbing over a fence, Tom causes a commotion, drawing the men's attention. The trio is shot at as they flee, but they make it to their canoe, paddling downstream towards their concealed raft. They revel in their daring escape, particularly Tom, who now has a bullet wound in his leg as a keepsake. Huck and Jim are worried about the injury, and Jim suggests they should find a doctor, just like Tom would have done for them. The suggestion solidifies Huck's belief that Jim is "white inside".

chapter 41

After leaving Jim and Tom on the island, Huck fetches a doctor for Tom, sending him on the solitary canoe. The next day, Huck encounters Silas who brings him home. The house buzzes with farmers and their spouses discussing the strange findings in Jim's shed and the hole. They theorize that a cunning gang of thieves duped not only the Phelpses and their friends, but also the original outlaws involved. Sally, mistaking Huck for Sid, won't let him leave due to her distress over losing Sid and fear of losing another boy. Moved by her worry, Huck promises not to cause her more pain.

chapter 42

Tom fails to come back and Silas's attempts to locate him prove unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Aunt Polly's letter arrives but Sally, mistaking the semi-conscious Tom for Sid, dismisses it. The crowd brings in Tom, along with Jim in chains, and the doctor. Some locals consider lynching Jim, but fear having to repay Jim's owner. Jim is treated brutally and chained in a shed. The doctor steps in, revealing Jim's sacrifice for Tom's care. Sally stays with Tom, relieved by his improved state. Tom, upon waking, excitedly recounts their adventure of liberating Jim. He is shocked to find out Jim is again a captive and reveals that the late Miss Watson freed Jim in her will, regretting her past intention to sell him away. Aunt Polly suddenly enters. She traveled from St. Petersburg to Arkansas after Sally’s letter about Sid Sawyer (Tom's pseudonym) and "Tom" (actually Huck). Tom had been meddling with the sisters' letters, prompting Polly's personal visit to clear up the mix-up. After an emotional reunion with Sally, Polly identifies the boys and scolds them for their escapades.

chapter 43

Aunt Sally aims to adopt and civilize Huck, an idea he can't endure as he's experienced it before. Huck questions Tom about his plans after liberating an already emancipated Jim. Tom's intentions were to compensate Jim and return him as a hero, along with a grand reception featuring a marching band. Upon learning of Jim's invaluable help to the doctor in caring for Tom, Aunt Polly and the Phelpses unchain him, offer him food, and treat him royally. Tom hands Jim forty dollars for his troubles. Jim claims that the old prophecy of his hairy chest bringing him luck has fulfilled. Tom recovers completely, proudly displaying the bullet from his wound on a watch-guard around his neck. He and Huck contemplate another adventure, this time to Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. Huck speculates Pap may have made off with his money, but Jim dismisses this possibility, revealing the corpse they discovered in the floating house amidst the flood was Huck's father. With nothing left to write about, Huck is relieved, finding the task of writing a book quite arduous. He doesn't anticipate writing more. His immediate plan is to head west as Aunt Sally is already starting her civilizing efforts on him. Huck is thoroughly done with that.