{"id":"01KG2TSHF3DMRMGQQ0V66E3Y1V","cid":"bafkreialxxwe65d4uw3q7gxgcobmym6py7akmvfsdemyastlw2dn7gdkhi","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":7953,"extracted_at":"2026-01-28T17:35:34.227Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG2T4RHC4E1XKJ12BJRXE8E8","start_line":7860,"text":"reviving—not with any reason to back it, but only because it is its\r\nnature to revive when the spring has not been taken out of it by age and\r\nfamiliarity with failure.\r\n\r\nBy-and-by Tom took Becky’s candle and blew it out. This economy meant so\r\nmuch! Words were not needed. Becky understood, and her hope died again.\r\nShe knew that Tom had a whole candle and three or four pieces in his\r\npockets—yet he must economize.\r\n\r\nBy-and-by, fatigue began to assert its claims; the children tried to pay\r\nattention, for it was dreadful to think of sitting down when time was\r\ngrown to be so precious, moving, in some direction, in any direction,\r\nwas at least progress and might bear fruit; but to sit down was to\r\ninvite death and shorten its pursuit.\r\n\r\nAt last Becky’s frail limbs refused to carry her farther. She sat down.\r\nTom rested with her, and they talked of home, and the friends there,\r\nand the comfortable beds and, above all, the light! Becky cried, and Tom\r\ntried to think of some way of comforting her, but all his encouragements\r\nwere grown thread-bare with use, and sounded like sarcasms. Fatigue bore\r\nso heavily upon Becky that she drowsed off to sleep. Tom was grateful.\r\nHe sat looking into her drawn face and saw it grow smooth and natural\r\nunder the influence of pleasant dreams; and by-and-by a smile dawned and\r\nrested there. The peaceful face reflected somewhat of peace and healing\r\ninto his own spirit, and his thoughts wandered away to bygone times and\r\ndreamy memories. While he was deep in his musings, Becky woke up with a\r\nbreezy little laugh—but it was stricken dead upon her lips, and a groan\r\nfollowed it.\r\n\r\n“Oh, how _could_ I sleep! I wish I never, never had waked! No! No, I\r\ndon’t, Tom! Don’t look so! I won’t say it again.”\r\n\r\n“I’m glad you’ve slept, Becky; you’ll feel rested, now, and we’ll find\r\nthe way out.”\r\n\r\n“We can try, Tom; but I’ve seen such a beautiful country in my dream. I\r\nreckon we are going there.”\r\n\r\n“Maybe not, maybe not. Cheer up, Becky, and let’s go on trying.”\r\n\r\nThey rose up and wandered along, hand in hand and hopeless. They tried\r\nto estimate how long they had been in the cave, but all they knew was\r\nthat it seemed days and weeks, and yet it was plain that this could not\r\nbe, for their candles were not gone yet. A long time after this—they\r\ncould not tell how long—Tom said they must go softly and listen for\r\ndripping water—they must find a spring. They found one presently, and\r\nTom said it was time to rest again. Both were cruelly tired, yet Becky\r\nsaid she thought she could go a little farther. She was surprised to\r\nhear Tom dissent. She could not understand it. They sat down, and Tom\r\nfastened his candle to the wall in front of them with some clay. Thought\r\nwas soon busy; nothing was said for some time. Then Becky broke the\r\nsilence:\r\n\r\n“Tom, I am so hungry!”\r\n\r\nTom took something out of his pocket.\r\n\r\n“Do you remember this?” said he.\r\n\r\nBecky almost smiled.\r\n\r\n“It’s our wedding-cake, Tom.”\r\n\r\n“Yes—I wish it was as big as a barrel, for it’s all we’ve got.”\r\n\r\n“I saved it from the picnic for us to dream on, Tom, the way grownup\r\npeople do with wedding-cake—but it’ll be our—”\r\n\r\nShe dropped the sentence where it was. Tom divided the cake and Becky\r\nate with good appetite, while Tom nibbled at his moiety. There was\r\nabundance of cold water to finish the feast with. By-and-by Becky\r\nsuggested that they move on again. Tom was silent a moment. Then he\r\nsaid:\r\n\r\n“Becky, can you bear it if I tell you something?”\r\n\r\nBecky’s face paled, but she thought she could.\r\n\r\n“Well, then, Becky, we must stay here, where there’s water to drink.\r\nThat little piece is our last candle!”\r\n\r\nBecky gave loose to tears and wailings. Tom did what he could to comfort\r\nher, but with little effect. At length Becky said:\r\n\r\n“Tom!”\r\n\r\n“Well, Becky?”\r\n\r\n“They’ll miss us and hunt for us!”\r\n\r\n“Yes, they will! Certainly they will!”\r\n\r\n“Maybe they’re hunting for us now, Tom.”\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG2TRB7D45GH13DNQ8SG4B62","peer_label":"CHAPTER XXXI","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG2T4RHC4E1XKJ12BJRXE8E8","peer_label":"tom_sawyer.txt","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG2T49K0H5GDRB0G4YDTPG8H","peer_label":"Test Collection","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG2TSHA4JBRQ6D4NEYNSEKAG","peer_label":"Chunk 2","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG2TSH7CA0SY5Z3MW4QBW7CV","peer_label":"Chunk 4","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-28T17:35:35.143Z","ts":"2026-01-28T17:35:35.995Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}