I talked to Tom Sawyer alone. I asked him about his plan for the escape. Why did Tom Sawyer want to help Jim escape? Jim was already a free man. Tom Sawyer said he had a big plan from the start.
Tom Sawyer wanted to take Jim down the river on the raft (a flat boat made of pieces of wood). They would have many adventures. Then Tom Sawyer would tell Jim the truth. He wanted to take Jim back home on a steamboat (a large ship moved by steam).
Tom Sawyer wanted a big party for Jim. He wanted to have a music band and many lights. Jim would be a hero in the town. Tom Sawyer and I would be heroes too. I thought the current situation was also good.
We took the chains off Jim immediately. Aunt Polly, Uncle Silas, and Aunt Sally were very kind to Jim. They heard how Jim helped the doctor with Tom Sawyer. They gave Jim good food and a comfortable place to stay. Jim did not have to work anymore.
We went to Tom Sawyer's room to talk. Tom Sawyer gave Jim forty dollars. He gave Jim the money because Jim was a very patient prisoner. Jim was extremely happy. Jim looked at me and laughed.
Jim reminded me of a sign from the past. He told me about it on Jackson Island. Jim had a hairy chest. He said it was a sign of wealth. He said he was rich once and he would be rich again. Jim said the sign was true. He was a rich man now.
Tom Sawyer talked more about the future. He wanted all three of us to go away one night. He wanted us to buy an outfit (all the tools and clothes for a long trip). Tom Sawyer wanted to have adventures in the West. I liked the idea. But I told Tom Sawyer that I had no money.
I thought my father took all my money. I thought my father came back and spent the money on alcohol. But Tom Sawyer said the money was safe. There was more than six thousand dollars in the bank. Tom Sawyer said my father never came back.
Jim looked very serious. Jim said my father was never coming back. I asked Jim why he knew this. Jim told me about the house on the river. Many weeks ago, we saw a house floating on the water. There was a dead man inside.
Jim covered the man's face then. He told me not to look. Jim told me the truth now. That dead man was my father. So my father was gone forever. My money was safe.
Tom Sawyer is almost well now. He wears the bullet on a chain around his neck. He uses it like a watch. He always looks at the time. There is nothing more to write about. I am very happy to finish this book.
Writing a book is very difficult. I will never write another book again. I must leave for the West soon. Aunt Sally wants to adopt (to legally become a child's parent) me. She wants to make me a "civilized" boy.
She wants me to wear clean clothes and go to school. I cannot stay here. I tried that life before and I did not like it.
THE END.
YOURS TRULY, HUCK FINN.