"(136) Huck learns from his decision that sometimes what society considers is right is not always right, and that he needs to decide for himself what is right and wrong.
Huck is faced with the second decision, of reporting in Jim on three different occasions. He uses his instincts to decide what the right thing to do was. When Huckleberry Finn stumbles across Jim at Jackson's Island, Jim explains to Huck that he had run away from Mrs. Watson. Huck decides not to turn him in because he had given him his word, and because he doesn't want to be lonely. Huck couldn't deal with his conscience of aiding a runaway slave so he goes onto an island to find out what city they were in, and to report Jim. Before Huck leaves for shore Jim tells him what a great friend he considered Huck to be, "Huck done it. Jim won't ever forgit you, Huck; you's de bes" fren" Jim's ever had; en you's de only fren" ole Jim's got now."(106) This makes Huck feel really guilty for what he is about to do. Then some men came along on a skiff looking for runaways, and they inquired about who was in the raft. On this second occasion, Huck knew he couldn't let them know that Jim was in there. He made the men believe that his father had the smallpox so they were frightened away. "Poor devil, we are right down sorry for you. But we don't want the smallpox." (107) And in the end of the novel, when the third occasion arrives, Jim is sold to the Phelps's farm by the King. Huck doesn't know what to do and decides to pray. This is a failed attempt and he decides he needs to let Mrs. Watson know what has happened to Jim. He figures that Jim was better off with Mrs. Watson than anyone else. Huck writes Mrs. Watson a letter informing her of Jims whereabouts. After it is written he feels relieved and as though his sins had been washed away. Now he is able to pray. However, as he begins to think about it, he realizes that Mrs. Watson will probably sell Jim down the river for being an ungrateful slave.