📖 Tom Sawyer – Chapter 12 (Adapted for B1+/B2 English Learners)
Title: Tom Tells the Truth
The Trial Continues
The next day, the courthouse was even more crowded. Everyone wanted to see the end of the trial. The lawyers repeated their arguments, and more witnesses spoke. All the evidence pointed to Muff Potter.
Muff sat quietly, his head bowed. He looked like a broken man. The judge asked if he wanted to speak in his defense, but Muff only shook his head. He believed there was no hope.
Tom’s Struggle
Tom sat among the crowd, trembling. His secret burned inside him. He looked at Muff’s sad face and felt guilt stabbing his heart like a knife. He remembered Muff’s kind words at the jail and how he had thanked him for being a friend.
Tom’s lips quivered. He wanted to shout out the truth. But Injun Joe was sitting only a few feet away. The thought of those fierce eyes made him shake with fear.
The lawyer for Muff Potter stood up and called the next witness. “Thomas Sawyer.”
Tom’s heart nearly stopped. The whole courtroom turned to look at him. Slowly, he walked to the witness stand. His legs felt like stone.
The Confession
The lawyer asked simple questions: “Did you see anything at the graveyard that night?”
Tom’s voice was faint. “Yes, sir.”
The courtroom went silent. Everyone leaned forward to listen.
Tom took a deep breath. He began to describe the night—the three men, the digging, the fight. His voice shook, but he went on. Then he cried out, “It was not Muff Potter! It was Injun Joe!”
A gasp ran through the courtroom. All eyes turned to Injun Joe.
In a flash, Injun Joe leapt to his feet, eyes blazing. Before anyone could stop him, he sprang through a window and disappeared. The crowd shouted and rushed after him, but he was gone.
Muff Potter Freed
The judge declared Muff Potter innocent. The old man wept with joy, hugging Tom and blessing him for his courage. People clapped and cheered. Aunt Polly, who had nearly fainted with shock, kissed Tom again and again.
But deep in Tom’s heart, fear still lingered. Injun Joe was free—and Tom knew the man would not forget who had betrayed him.
📘 Glossary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Defense | What a lawyer says to prove someone innocent |
| Quivered | Shook slightly, often from nerves |
| Witness stand | The place in court where a witness speaks |
| Confession | Admitting the truth about something |
| Gasp | A quick, surprised breath |
| Blazing | Burning with anger |
| Innocent | Not guilty |
❓ Comprehension Questions
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Why did Muff Potter look hopeless at the trial?
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Why did Tom feel guilty during the trial?
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Who called Tom as a witness?
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What did Tom finally confess in front of everyone?
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How did Injun Joe react?
✅ Answers
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Because all the evidence seemed to prove him guilty.
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Because he knew Muff was innocent but was too afraid to speak.
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Muff Potter’s lawyer.
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He confessed that Injun Joe was the true killer.
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He jumped up, leapt through the window, and escaped.
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