Injun Joe's Criminal Career and Death

The trajectory of Injun Joe from murderer to fugitive to a trapped, starving death in the cave.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Graveyard Murder

The First Crime The Revenge Motive Injun Joe, a half-breed with a grudge against Doctor Robinson, seizes the opportunity during a grave robbery to stab the doctor to death. He frames Muff Potter and escapes. The False Testimony At the inquest, Injun Joe calmly testifies against Potter, convincing the town of Potter's guilt. Tom and Huck believe Joe has sold himself to the devil. The Fugitive After Tom's testimony exposes him, Injun Joe escapes through a courtroom window and becomes a hunted fugitive.

The Haunted House Encounter

The Hidden Treasure The Disguise Injun Joe, disguised as a deaf-mute Spaniard, returns to St. Petersburg with an accomplice. They hide a treasure box in the haunted house, where Tom and Huck witness them. The Revenge Plot Joe plans to mutilate Widow Douglas in revenge for her husband's actions. He is thwarted by Huck and the Welshman, and he and his accomplice flee. The Final Hideout Joe takes refuge in McDougal's Cave, where he is trapped when Judge Thatcher has the cave door sheathed in boiler iron and triple-locked.

Death in the Cave

The Starvation The Trapped Fugitive Injun Joe, unable to escape the sealed cave, slowly starves to death. He breaks his knife trying to cut through the door's foundation beam and eats bats and candle ends. The Discovery When Tom and Huck return to the cave for the treasure, they find Joe's body near the door, his face pressed to the crack, longing for freedom. Tom feels pity despite his fear. The Burial Joe is buried near the cave mouth, and a petition for his pardon is abandoned. His death brings relief to Tom and Huck, freeing them from fear.

Midnight, early in the story

Mid-story, after the trial

Late in the story, during Tom's cave ordeal