With the temperature rising and the landscape scattered with Spanish moss, Huck realizes that they are a long way from home. The new schemes of the duke and the king barely bring in enough money for liquor, so the two men begin to plot and whisper about their next scam. Huck and Jim are concerned about the clandestine behavior of the con men, and when Huck finally sees a chance to escape, he discovers that the duke and the king have made a fake handbill and turned in Jim for a $40 reward.
Huck is furious with the con men because “after all we’d done for them scoundrels el they could have the heart to serve Jim and make him a slave again all his life.” As Huck ponders his choices, his conscience begins to trouble him again. He cannot help but feel guilty for assisting Jim, despite the fact that his instincts constantly force him into that role. After trying to pray for resolution, Huck writes a letter to Miss Watson detailing where Jim is and signs it “Huck Finn.” After he finishes the letter, he feels momentary relief and is confident that he has saved himself from going to hell for helping a slave.
Instead of being satisfied with his decision, however, Huck begins to replay their trip down the river. He reminisces about the two of them “a-floating along, talking and singing and laughing” and cannot force himself to see Jim as someone disgraceful. Huck trembles as he again picks up Miss Watson’s letter and realizes that the struggle must stop: He must decide forever between two things: heaven and hell. He pauses for a minute, then declares “All right, then, I’ll go to hell” and tears the letter to pieces. Once Huck makes his decision to betray society for Jim, he immediately plots to steal Jim back out of slavery.
