Published: ‘The Scribbler’, vol. i, no. 12, and vol. ii, no. 1 (3 and 30 June 1879).

Attribution: Lot 106 in the G. M. Williamson sale, New York, Anderson Galleries, 17 March 1915, where it is described as a copy by May Morris of a contribution from RK signed ‘Nickson’, a pseudonym used at this time by RK.

Text: Typescript copy, British Library, Add. MS 45337, ff. 120–6; 161–5.

Notes: Written for ‘The Scribbler’, a handwritten magazine got out by the children of William Morris and Sir Edward Burne-Jones from November 1878 to March 1880. Only two copies of each number were produced. The two parts of this story are both signed ‘Nickson’. RK's father, John Lockwood Kipling, contributed to Indian newspapers under the pseudonym ‘Nick’ (short for ‘nicotine’). RK was therefore ‘Nickson’. RK, 13 years old in 1879, was then in his second year at the United Services College, Westward Ho!, North Devon.

The original – i.e., a copy written out by May Morris for ‘The Scribbler’ – was bought from May Morris in 1901 by G. M. Williamson, and was sold with other items for the magazine at the Anderson Galleries, New York, 17 March 1915, Those items are now scattered.

The typescript copy of contributions to ‘The Scribbler’ in the British Library is in a volume mixing typescripts and manuscripts. The typescripts were presumably made before the sale of the manuscript material to Williamson, if in fact there was any manuscript apart from the copies made for the magazine.

‘My First Adventure’ has been reprinted in the Martindell–Ballard pamphlets and in Harbord, i, 501–7.

Part I

Our school at Hawesdean1 was situated near the little river Stour, and it was in connection with that stream that my first adventure took place. I will tell you how it all happened.

About the middle of the Midsummer term of 185 – we were challenged by the neighbouring school of Crickford to a cricket-match, and in a moment of enthusiasm, forgetful of the strength of our opponent team, accepted the challenge. As was expected, in spite of all our efforts and severe training, when the match came off they obtained many more runs than we, and defeat seemed inevitable.