Chapter 31: After traveling south
for a few days now, the schemers begin to plot secretly. Huck becomes nervous. Coming back to the
raft a few hours later, he realizes that Jim is gone, and suspects that the king and duke have sold
him back into slavery. He quickly learns from a boy from the town that Jim has been brought to Phelps
farm, which is nearby. Huck
returns to the wigwam to think, considering whether or not to send a letter to Miss Watson telling her
Jim's whereabouts. He ultimately decides against this, believing he will be the laughing stock of the
town for helping a slave escape. He also considers how wicked he has become, thinking that he must
be surely damned for such actions. He accepts this fate, however, believing that he's going to hell
anyway so he might as well help his friend, Jim.
Thus, Huck begins to walk towards the Phelps' farm. On the way, however, he encounters the duke, who
is putting up a flyer for another Royal Nonesuch performance. The duke blames the king for selling
Jim, saying that he took all the money for himself. He tells Huck that Jim is forty miles away, making
up a story to get rid of the boy. Of course Huck realizes that he's being lied to, but he pretends
to follow the duke's advice, starting off right away towards the place the duke has directed him. Once
out of sight, however, Huck heads directly towards the Phelps' house.
Chapter 32: Huck approaches the
farm, not knowing what he will say, but just trusting Providence "to put the right words in [his] mouth."
Soon he realizes that they are expecting someone, and eventually he realizes that they are anticipating
the arrival of one Tom Sawyer. Since they haven't seen Tom in many years, they assume that Huck is
him. This sudden turn of fortune delights Huck, who willingly assumes the identity of his best friend
and eagerly answers all their questions about the family he knows so much about.
Chapter 33: Worried that the real
Tom Sawyer could be coming at any moment, Huck tells his new family that he will get his own baggage
from the steamboat. Walking on the road back into town, he reunites with his friend, who can't believe
that he is actually alive. He grudgingly admits to Tom that he's been trying to free Jim from slavery.
Surprisingly, Tom says that he will help him free Miss Watson's slave. This stupefies Huck, who believes
Tom to be a "civilized" boy who knows right from wrong.
Reaching the Phelps' farm himself, Tom assumes the identity of Sid, his older brother, and explains
the circumstances that bring him to visit too.
Later, they see a wild crowd gathered around two men who have been tarred and feathered. Huck knows
that these must be the infamous king and duke, and though he feels sorry for them, he's glad that justice
has finally been done.
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