The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ISLAND NARRATIVE

A MAN HAD BEEN MAROONED ON AN ISLAND SEVERAL YEARS. HE
HAD CAREFULLY STORED THE PROVISIONS FROM A WRECKED SHIP
IN SEVERAL TREES, WHERE THEY WOULD BE SAFE. ONE DAY HE
SIGHTED A RAFT FLOATING IN TO SHORE. ON THE RAFT WAS A
MARRIED COUPLE. THE HERMIT BECAME DETERMINED TO HAVE
INTERCOURSE WITH THE WOMAN, BUT HE HAD TO DEVISE A PLAN.
ONE DAY HE WENT UP INTO THE TREE TO GET PROVISIONS.
WHILE HE WAS UP THERE HE YELLED, "STOP THAT SCREWING
DOWN THERE." THE COUPLE ON THE GROUND JUST THOUGHT
THIS WAS THE EFFECT OF SO MANY YEARS OF ISOLATION. AGAIN
AND AGAIN HE YELLED, "STOP THAT SCREWING DOWN THERE."
FINALLY, ONE DAY, THE MARRIED MAN VOLUNTEERED TO CLIMB
THE TREE FOR PROVISIONS. WHILE HE WAS UP THE HERMIT
HAD INTERCOURSE WITH HIS WIFE. THE MAN IN THE TREE
LOOKED DOWN AND SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND SAID TO
HIMSELF, "IT DOES LOOK LIKE THEY ARE SCREWING DOWN
THERE."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT