It was morning when Tom finally returned to camp. Huck and Joe were already up and glad to see him. They had begun to worry where he had gone. During a sumptuous breakfast of bacon and fish, Tom recounted his adventure back in the village. When he finished, he hid himself away in a shady nook and slept until noon.
The day passed slowly, with the boys hunting for turtle eggs, fishing from the shore, and swimming until they were tired and ready to
Finally, Joe broke the silence. “Oh, let’s give it up,” he said. “I want to go home. It’s so lonesome here.”
“Oh no, Joe, you’ll feel better soon,” said Tom. “Just think of the great fishing that’s here.”
“I don’t care for fishing. I want to go home.”
Tom tried again. “But Joe, there isn’t another swimming place like this anywhere.”
It was no use. Soon, even Huck was convinced that it was time to give up and go home. Tom, however, remained firm; he refused to leave the island.
By this time it was beginning to get dark, so Huck and Joe began gathering their things. They didn’t want to leave without Tom, but he absolutely refused to consider giving up and going home.
“Tom, I wish you’d come too,” said Huck. “Now you think it over. We’ll wait for you down by the shore.”
Tom stood watching as Joe and Huck walked slowly away. Suddenly, an idea hit him and he ran after his friends yelling, “Wait! Wait! I want to tell you something.”
Joe and Huck stopped and turned around. When Tom reached them, he began explaining his secret plan. The boys listened quietly until they saw the point he was driving at.
Yes, they agreed, Tom had a wonderful plan, even though it meant they would have to stay on the island four more days until Saturday.
Somehow, knowing that they would be going home soon helped Tom, Huck, and Joe pass those days quickly. They fished, swam, played games, and made plans for their return.
When Sunday finally came, the town was mournful and silent. The Harpers and Aunt
Becky Thatcher found herself moping around the deserted schoolyard, feeling miserable and talking to herself.
“Oh, if only I had that brass doorknob again!” she murmured. “But I haven’t anything now to remember him by.” And she choked back a little sob. Becky regretted what she had done to Tom. Now she was sure she would never see him again. Just the thought of this touched her so deeply that tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Nearby, a group of boys talked in low voices about Tom and Joe. They retold stories of their two lost friends and shook their heads in disbelief at the thought that they were really gone forever.
At noon, the church bell began to toll. The Villagers gathered in the church, and only the sound of whispering was heard. No one could remember when the little church had been so crowded. A hush came over the villagers when Aunt Polly entered, followed by Sid and the whole Harper family. As the silent, black-clad procession made their way slowly down the aisle, the whole congregation stood in respect.
The funeral service began with the minister describing the boys in glowing terms. He related many incidents in their young lives, and as he talked, the congregation became more and more moved. Soon, there was hardly a dry eye in the church.
A slight rustling sound in the gallery went unnoticed, but a moment later, the creaking of the church door interrupted the service. The minister raised his weeping eyes and stood transfixed! First one, then another pair of eyes
Aunt Polly and the Harpers threw themselves upon the boys and smothered them with hugs and kisses.
Suddenly the minister shouted at the top of his voice, “Praise God! Sing! And put your hearts into it!”
And the whole congregation did. The sound of their voices shook the rafters, while Tom Sawyer, the Pirate, looked around the church at his friends and confessed in his heart that this was the proudest moment of his life.