James

The King and the Duke force Huck and Jim to cook catfish for them while they plan to stop for a drink in the next town. The King remarks that there’s something different about Jim, but he does not elaborate. They reach the next town, which is half in Missouri and half in Illinois. The Duke chides Jim for limping, as an injured or physically disabled slave is harder to sell. The men tell Huck and Jim to sit directly outside the saloon while they have a drink. Huck proposes running, but Jim is too wounded and does not trust that making it to the free side of town will actually deliver him to freedom.

Huck wonders what will happen if Jim is sold and cannot escape. Jim replies that his life will not be that different, except he will belong to someone else. They discuss finding a shortcut to the river and ask a man who comes out of the saloon for directions. He is too drunk to be of any help. Jim declares that, if they do run, it should be back the way they came, toward the raft. Huck has no running left in him. Jim knows he can always run, but that escape is another matter. He tries to keep in mind his goal of freeing Lizzie and Sadie.