- description
- # CHAPTER XXXI
## Overview
This entity is [CHAPTER XXXI](arke:01KG176GX4VCGYMVZ5THC9XAME), a chapter within the novel [The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Complete](arke:01KG17620ND2Q83R02B18E9MJZ). It spans lines 7726 to 8066 of the source text file [tom_sawyer.txt](arke:01KG0K71QZ8KK7RGEGSNTB5534) and was extracted as part of the digital processing of the full novel. The chapter is one of 35 chapters in the novel and is situated between [CHAPTER XXX](arke:01KG176GQB7F00KKAYXGY02KYQ) and [CHAPTER XXXII](arke:01KG176GX924PZ3M4VRKXM7XWF). It is included in the digital collection [More Classics](arke:01KFXT0KM64XT6K8W52TDEE0YS), which curates works of Western literary canon.
## Context
The chapter is part of Mark Twain’s classic 1876 novel *The Adventures of Tom Sawyer*, originally published by the American Publishing Company. This digital version was derived from a plain text file processed through an automated structure extraction system. The chapter was segmented into five smaller text units called "chunks" to facilitate digital analysis and navigation. The content reflects a critical turning point in the novel, occurring during Tom and Becky’s ill-fated exploration of McDougal’s Cave, a setting central to the story’s climax.
## Contents
This chapter details Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher’s terrifying experience becoming lost in the cave during a picnic. It begins with their playful exploration of named caverns like “The Drawing-Room” and “The Cathedral,” but quickly shifts to suspense as they wander into uncharted passages. After realizing they are lost and unable to retrace their steps due to bat attacks, the children face mounting fear, fatigue, and hunger. Tom conserves their last candle, and Becky grows increasingly despondent. They briefly hope rescuers are searching for them, but their candle eventually burns out, plunging them into total darkness. The chapter ends with Tom discovering a side passage and, while exploring it with kite-line in hand, catching sight of Injun Joe—now unaware of Tom’s presence—heightening the tension and foreshadowing future confrontation.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-28T02:39:14.072Z
- description_model
- Qwen/Qwen3-235B-A22B-Instruct-2507
- description_title
- CHAPTER XXXI
- end_line
- 8066
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-28T02:33:53.611Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 7726
- text
- null
- title
- CHAPTER XXXI