Making the pens and the saw was very hard work. Jim said that the inscription (words carved into a wall) would be the hardest job of all. Tom Sawyer said Jim must have one. He said every famous prisoner leaves an inscription and a coat of arms (a special picture that represents a noble family).
Tom Sawyer talked about famous prisoners from history books. Huckleberry Finn asked why they must do so much work. Tom Sawyer said Jim must do it because all prisoners do it. Jim said he did not have a coat of arms. He said he only had one old shirt.
Tom Sawyer said a coat of arms was a special design. Huckleberry Finn and Jim worked on the pens. Jim used a piece of brass and Huckleberry Finn used a spoon. While they worked, Tom Sawyer thought about the design for the coat of arms.
Tom Sawyer chose a very complex design. He used many strange words from his books to describe it. He talked about a shield with a dog, a chain, and a runaway man. He also wanted a motto (a short sentence that explains a person's beliefs).
Tom Sawyer’s motto said that if you go too fast, you do less work. Huckleberry Finn did not understand the strange words. Tom Sawyer did not want to explain them. He said all noble people used these words.
Next, Tom Sawyer wrote four sad sentences for Jim’s inscription. One said, "A lonely heart broke here." Another said Jim was a famous person from France. Tom Sawyer almost cried when he read the sentences.
Tom Sawyer could not choose just one sentence. He decided that Jim must carve all of them on the wall. Jim said he did not know how to write. Tom Sawyer promised to draw the letters first. Then Jim could follow the lines with a nail.
Tom Sawyer decided that wooden walls were not good for a prison. He said they needed a rock for the inscriptions. He remembered a large grindstone (a heavy, round stone used to sharpen tools) at the mill. The boys decided to steal it.
The grindstone was very heavy. The boys tried to roll it, but it almost hurt them. They were very tired and sweaty. They went back to the cabin and got Jim to help.
Jim put his chain around his neck and crawled out of the hole. Jim and Huckleberry Finn moved the stone easily. Tom Sawyer watched them and gave orders. Huckleberry Finn said Tom Sawyer was very good at giving orders.
The hole was too small for the stone. Jim used the pickaxe to make the hole bigger. Tom Sawyer drew the designs on the stone with a nail. He told Jim to carve the designs into the rock. Jim had to hide the heavy stone under his bed.
Then Tom Sawyer asked Jim about spiders. Jim said he did not have any spiders in his room. Tom Sawyer said he would find some for Jim. Jim said he was afraid of spiders. He said he would rather have rattlesnakes.
Tom Sawyer liked the idea of a rattlesnake. He said Jim could tame the snake. He told Jim to pet the snake and love it. Jim said a snake would bite his chin off. He did not want a snake to sleep in his bed.
Finally, Tom Sawyer agreed to get garter-snakes (small, safe snakes). He said they could tie buttons to the snakes’ tails. They would pretend the snakes were rattlesnakes. Jim was still not happy, but he agreed.
Tom Sawyer said Jim must also have rats. He said all prisoners played music for their rats. He told Jim to use a jew’s harp (a small musical instrument played in the mouth). Tom Sawyer said the music would make the rats and snakes happy.
Jim said he did not want rats to bite his feet while he slept. But Tom Sawyer insisted. He said the animals would soon love Jim. Jim said he would do it to keep the animals satisfied.
Then Tom Sawyer told Jim to grow a flower in the corner of the cabin. He said Jim must water the flower with his tears. Jim said he had plenty of fresh water. Tom Sawyer said that only tears were "regular" for a prisoner.
Jim said he did not cry very often. Tom Sawyer said he would give Jim an onion. Jim could use the onion to make himself cry. Jim complained about the onion, the rats, and the snakes. He said it was too much work to be a prisoner.
Tom Sawyer was very angry. He said Jim had a great chance to be famous, but Jim did not appreciate it. Jim said he was sorry and promised to be better. Then Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer went to bed.