Tom waited to make sure Huck and Joe were fast asleep. When he was absolutely sure, he tiptoed cautiously among the trees until he was out of hearing. Then he ran straight for the raft on shore.
By ten o’clock, he was back in town. He flew along the streets and alleys and shortly found himself at his aunt’s back fence. He climbed over it and looked in through the sitting-room window where a light still burned. Seeing no one inside, Tom went to the door and softly
“But, as I was saying,” she cried, “he wasn’t bad—only mischevious. He never meant any harm, and he was the best-hearted boy who ever was.” She sank down onto the bed and cried.
“It was just like that with my Joe,” sobbed the other voice, which Tom recognized as Mrs. Harper’s. “He was always full of the devil and up to every kind of mischief, but he was just as unselfish and kind as he could be.”
Tom went on listening and realized that everyone assumed the boys had drowned while taking a swim. Then, when the raft was discovered missing, there was hope that they had gone down the river to the next town. But when that
Tom shuddered when he heard the news. He watched as Aunt Polly knelt down and prayed for him. The tears fell as she whispered words of love and endearment for him.
After Mrs. Harper had left and Aunt Polly was asleep, Tom crept out from under the bed and stood looking at the old woman by the light of the candle. His heart was full of pity for her. He thought he should write her a note and tell her that he was really alive.
So Tom took a piece of sycamore bark out of his pocket, put it on the table, and began to write. But then he got an interesting idea and quickly put the bark away.
As he started out the door, Tom bent over his aunt and kissed her. He would return another time.