Nelson Family Juvenilia
Box 1 Folder 41
Set A Drift

SET A DRIFT
Chapter 1
Shipwrecked and the first day on shore
The storm had lasted three days and now it was more furious than ever there was a family that had started for the West Indies but now the ship had got cut off the way there was Frank and James down in the cabin their [page break] farther and mother were up on the deck just then the boys heard the captain shout, into your boat! Oh come quick Frank or we shall be left so the boys rushed up on deck but the boat had got of[f] so far that they couldnt make them hear and the sailors didnt look aroud Frank said lets put some barrels on to us so if the ship sinks we shall float for a while then one off them tied a hatchet to his jacket and then went to bed they had been sleeping quite a while when all at once they heard a crash and felt them selves going down oh oh they cried just then Frank felt a timber hit his legs oh he cried just then James felt it hit one of his legs but it didnt hurt him very much but the worst off all was where were they going? Never mind said James we shall come out some wheres have you got your hatchet Frank oh yes said Frank I wish I had brought a box of matches said James perhaps we [page break] can find a box of matches that has floated up on land if we ever get to land said Frank I hope we can get to land said James so do I said Frank then they floated and floated after they had flaoted a while Frank said you know we couldnt see land when we were on the ship even the captain couldnt but just see the land with his spy glass you know they went in that direction and I dont thinkw e are going in that direction said Frank lets look up and see if we can see land for they had been looking down at the water when they looked up they saw land and just the way they were floating then they floated till the barrel scraped the sand then they stood up [page break] and waded to shore then Frank chopped down some reeds and James cut down some in a marsh with his jackknife they had them for spears while they were cutting them down a large bird flew up oh whats that said James aint that a parrot said Frank Frank slung a spear at it but didnt hit it then then they saw a large tree near the wood so they smashed up their barrels for a floor and in the limb of the tree then they wanted some thing to eat oh lets make a bow and arrow said James so he climbed down out of the tree and took a thick reed to see if it would make a good bow but when he esnt [sent] it it broke [page break] so he climbe[d] up into the tree again and cut off one off the limbs then he tried to see if it would bend good he found out that it would what shall we have for strings said Frank I wonder if I have got some in my pocket said James so he put his hand in to his pocket no I have not said he whey couldnt we take a piece out off our shirts said Frank all right I will tare a piece out of mine for my bow and youd do the same said James so they made thier bows and started near the shore to see if they couldnt see some thing to kill with their bows after they had gone a while Frank said what shall we light our fire with oh we may find a box of matches before we come [page break] back said James then they went on pretty soon they saw a reed boy towards them so Frank cut down some long poles and they drew it in then Frank smashed it open with his hatched and behold it was a box of matches they jumped around with glee then they went on pretty soon they came to a climb off bushes just then they saw something pop his head up out of the bushes Frank fired and his arrow hit the animal and stoned it, then James stuck his knife into the animal and killed it and got a quill stuck into his hand then he puled it out then Frank saw it was a porcupine then James took the porcupine by the feet and started for the big tree as they were going back they saw a shining thing floating near the shore so they ran and oh its got a lot off beans said James then they carried it a long I am glad we got it said Frank be cause we can cook our porcupine in it you dont cook it you boil it you dont you cook it mama [page break] always does so she doesnt she boils it I know she cooks it said Frank oh what fools we are cook and boil mean the same said James then they tried to skin it but it was hard work after they had got it skinned they boiled it and ate their dinner then they went and practiced with their bows first they stood two yards from their mark and fired till they hit it every time then they stood four yards away and then a rod after that they went out to see if they could get some moss for their beds while they were hunting Frank went into the brush in one spot to see if he couldnt see some moss while he was looking he cried out oh here is a birds nest with four eggs in it oh I am so glad you found some said James then they started for reed marsh as they called the marsh where that they cut the reeds for spears as they were going back they found some moss then they put it up in the tree and then cooked the eggs and practice with ther [page break] bows a while and then ate supper and then pretty soon went to bed

Chapter 2
Making a boat. The black swans.
For a few days they did just about the same it was the next day after Sunday it was a Wednesday when that they first came a shore and now it was Monday they got up early to go out to get some thing for break fast they went out in to the woods after they had been going a while they saw a flock of birds fly up James fleed and brought down one Frank wasnt quick enough and so they flew a way and Frank and Frank didnt shooting the parrot hit one then James picked up the bird and found it was a parrot then they went back and built a fire then got some water from a spring in a tin pail and hung it over the tree [page break] then they put the parrot in to cook then they went down on the shore and hunted in the sand for turtles eggs at last they found some and then went back and cooked them then they ate break fast afer they had got done Frank said I wish we had a boat if we can fing [find] a big half rotter one we can [new?] out one said James so they started a long the shore after the gone a while they came to a timber that was rotten in the middle on one side so they began hewing they had just hewed a little when it came dinner time so they went and cooked a few more turtles egg and the [page break] rest of the parrot the boat took them almost a weak to make the boat after they had got it made they shover it in to the water and found it wouldnt tip over so then they made two paddles and took their bows and arrows and jumped into the boat they were going to get some thing for that day and Sunday to eat for it was Saturday after they had gone quite a piece they came to a little brook that flowed into the sea they rowed up that and at last came to a small pond but they didnt see any thing to shoot so they went on all at once they turned a bend and saw a lake there was a lot of black swans around both or the boys fired with their bows and two off the swans roled over on the water it was lucky for them for all the rest flew a way then they rowed [page break] and picked the swans up oh I am so glad we found this lake said James we can come up here most any time and get a swan said Frank oh aint it pretty said Jame then they rowed back to parrot nest as they called the palce where that they built the house in the tree so they rowed back and at dinner and then after dinner they went down to the shore and dug turtles eggs and put them in a box and put them in the tree then they make some more arrows and then took a row in the boat they just [liked?] it when they came back it was time to eat supper so they cooked some eggs and half off a swan and then ate supper they sat down and planned and then went to bed the next morning they got up and got into their boat and took their bows and arrows and rowed for the little brook they [page break] went up it and came to the lake there was a lot off swans there they both fired and hit two off off [sic] them and killed them then they got the swans and went back it was a good ways up there and back and it took a good deal longer to go up because the water was rather swift and it took all the forenoon to go up there and back when they got back they ate dinner and then went out on the ocean to see what they could see they jumped in to the boat and rowed out after they had rowed about three hours they could just see land in one little spot so they rowed up to it and found it was a island it had quite a number off large trees on it pretty soon they went back when they got back it was [page break] supper time so they cooked some more eggs and the rest off the swan aint you glad we found the island said James yes I am said Frank and when they got done the boys ate their supper for some time we can go there and stay there for a weak said Frank so then they climbe into the tree and went to bed

Chapter 3
The bear. The cave. A visit to the island
The next morning they got up early and ate breakfast then took their bows and arrows and got in to their boat a started for the lake lets stay all day said Frank andd we will go on shore at the lake and explore it then they went on when they got to the lake they got out on shore and went back into the woods after they had gone a while they came to [page break] some tall reeds it was raher wet there then they cut down some and made some more arrows then they went on pretty soon it came dinner so they ate dinner and then went on after they came to a kind off bush that had long sharp needle like thorns on they didnt know what it was they took some and put them in the points off their arrows oh aint you glad we found them for we can kill them quicker said Frank I shant be so much afraid of bears and such things now said James just then they heard a noise behind them they looked around and saw a bear the boys urned and at once they came to a lake they climbed down it as fast as they could the bear jumped down a piece and then and looked down just then fired and hit in the head and before the bear could turn and run Frank fired and killed him then they climbed up again and looked [page break] to see where they were they found out they were just above their house so they made out to dry him over the ledge then they went down it was supper time so they ate supper and then went to bed for they were tired they got up the next morning and ate breakfast lets go and get our boat said James all right said Frank so they took their bows and arrows and started when they got up there the boat was all right so they jumped in and rowed back it was dinner when they got back so they ate dinner and then went out after kegs and salt to pack the bear in the barrels by that tiem it was supper time so they ate supper and then went to bed the next morning they got up and ate breakfast and then went to cuting up the bear and packing it it took them three days to do it then they said the next [page break] day they would go to the lake again and explore so they started they rowed up to the lake and went a shore they had gone quite a piece when it came dinner time so they ate dinner and then started back while they were going to the lake they came to a large rock they went a round it and found it was a large cave they lit some sticks and went into the cave oh lets make a house off this said [MS. smudged] oh yes we [MS. smudged] said James the [MS. smudged] went out and went down to the lake and jumped into the boat and went home then they ate supper and went bed the next morning they got up early ate their breakfast lets make that house to day said James so [page break] they began it took them a week to get it made then they thought they would go to the island and stay for a while so in the morning they ate breakfast and then they got into theirs boat and went there when they got there they saw a whole troop off monkeys they caught a baby one and began to tame it they stayed there a few days over two months and then they came back when they got back [page break] their monkey jumped out off the boat and started to climb a tree but the boys called him back into the boat and then they went up to the lake and then got out on shore and then went to their house in the cave and ate supper then sat down to talk over things lets see what we can see on the shore tomorrow and James and we will take our boat along to drag our things back with and we will try to make a house out off the boards and planks and timbers wont we said Frank yes we will try it said James then they went to bed

Chapter 4
The rainy season
The next morning they got up and ate breakfast and then jumped into their boat and started down the river they left their monkey at home after they had gone a piece James said isnt it about winter yes said Frank hadnt we better be getting things [page break] ready for winter said James yes said Frank so they went to parrot nest and put three casks off the bears meat all they had into their boat then they carried it back to stone house that was the name they gave to the cave they lived in they rolled the casks into the back part and then went down again when they got down there they went a shore then they went to get some off the salt from the ledges and carried it back to rock house then they went down a piece on the river to an open place in the woods then they fastened their boat and went on land to see if they could find any thing that would be of some use to them after they had gone a while they saw a head of them some plants that looked like potato plants they run that way and came to them they dug up one plant with their hands and found that they were sweet potatoes oh aint you glad we found them said Frank yes inded I am said james oh what shall we bring [?] [page break] them home in said Frank perhaps we can find a cask or barrel down on the sea shore come on lets go and look said James so they started for the ocean wasnt more than a half a mile away as they came near James exclaimed what is that big thing there on the edge of the bank isnt that baby whale said Frank tisnt big enough for a baby whale but it may be a boat said James they went up to it and found that it was what James thought it was oh here is a gun in this boat and a box and oh here is some bottom of the boat they took the things out and James opened the box and found it was full of powder then they got a cask and went back to where the potatoes were they fastened the boat on the shore [page break] then they went home the next day it was rainy and for two months it rained most of the time a little they had lots of fun with their monkey the rainy season had stopped and James proposed having a bout a week exploring so they cooked some food to caary with them then they got their then they put their bows and made some arrows and started out they were walking when their monkey gave a jump in to the grass and began eating some thing Frank ran and looked and saw a number of clusters of straw berries all ripe and seet then he carried James some and they tasted of the berries and James said they were good then they picked quite a lot of them then they went in to a woods they walked quite a ways when they came to some cocoa nut trees they got quite a lot they ate two Frank said this is cocoa nut woods isnt it [page break]

Chapter 5
Shoting the jaguar
Then they went on after they had gone a number of miles it came night they built a number of fires and sat down to supper all at once they heard a yell they turned around and saw a jaguar chasing their monkey the grabbed some fire brands and started for the jaguar the jaguar jumped on to Frank and knocked him down then Frank hit the jaguar with his burning stick the Jaguar jumped up and started to run off but James fired an arrow in to the jaguars heart Frank got up limping the jaguar had hurt his leg only a little through then they put some pieces of bark up in a tree and lit some fires around it and then climbed up in it and went to sleep the next morning they skinned their jaguar and put it on a piece of board to carry with them then they went on in a little while they came to a river they found two old logs and fastened them togeather then they started to cross the river all at once. [page break] Some thing grabbed one end of their raft James rushed forward and hit it with his hatchet it let go and went back a piece they paddled with all of their might suddenly some thing stoped it so suddenly that they were thrown to the raft they got up and saw the shark a biting at the end of the raft with all his might both the boys ran and hit it it sank in to the water they went a shore and ate supper then they built a lot of fires around a small place they piled them high with wood and went to sleep the next morning they got up and thought they would go home so they started in a little while they came to the river their raft wasnt there so they made a new one them they started a cross they had only found one piece of board and James was paddleing with it when it slipped out of his hand and so they had nothing to paddle with they were in hopes that they would run a ground they tried to steer it with their hands so as to make them run a [page break] shore but it didnt they kept on down the river in a little while they came to a rapid they tried with all their might not to go down them they kicked the water with all was a still place and a bend so that they landed then the started on to try to get back rock house oh what are those things said Frank they look like pine apples said James [rest of document blank]