When Jim is captured as a runaway slave, Tom neglects to mention that he has been free since the death of Miss Watson, who set her free in her will. Instead, he allows Jim to remain a prisoner while he and Huck plan an elaborate escape, all for the sake of adventure. This motive is demonstrated when he rejects Huck’s simple escape suggestions and insists that they utilize a more complex and romantic one instead, because it is what would be done “in books.” For instance, instead of simply slipping Jim’s chain off the bedpost, he wants to saw the post off, or even to amputate Jim’s leg, because it would be more romantic and adventurous.