I suppose that the very end of the story can be what the cheat
is. Most critics have interpreted Hemingway's remark as refering to
the entire "evasion" section. The "cheat" of the section after Jim
is recaptured would be even more baffling to me. I know many people
have quarreled with the evasion section, so I assume that Hemingway's
comment fits into that tradition.
Hilton