Three days have passed, and the villagers are in mourning for the loss of Becky and Tom. Mrs. Thatcher is ill, and Aunt Polly is distraught. Then "in the middle of the night, a wild peal burst from the village bells" and there were shouts: "Turn out! turn out! they're found! they're found!" A messenger goes to the cave to inform Judge Thatcher, who is still searching.
Using all types of exaggerations and embroidering the story as much as possible, Tom tells of his and Becky's wonderful adventure. He thoroughly enjoys the attention of the people who listened intently to his every word.
Three days and nights in the cave have drained the strength of both Tom and Becky; Tom gets better in three days, but it takes a week for Becky to regain her strength. Meanwhile, Tom has heard of Huck's illness, and he visits him, but the Widow Douglas refuses to allow Tom to tell about his awesome adventure in the cave. Tom does hear that the ragged man was found drowned in the river while trying to escape. About two weeks later, Tom goes by to visit Becky. Judge Thatcher tells him that he has had the cave locked and secured so that no other children can get inside. "Tom turned as white as a sheet" and explains that "Injun Joe is in the cave."
