Waltey

Prevod

Prostrano sotesko Yo Semite (Grizli), ki je nastala, ko se je razklalo trdno gorovje Sierra, krasijo številni slapovi, ki se usipajo čez miljo visoke prepadne stene. O slapu, imenovanem Nevestina tančica, pripovedujejo to zgodbo. Pred stoletji je v zavetju te doline s svojim plemenom živel Tutokanula — dober lovec, ki je preudarno spravljal pridelke in divjačino za zimo, moder poglavar, ki mu je njegovo ljudstvo zaupalo in ga ljubilo. Nekega dne se mu je med lovom prikazala varuhinja doline — prelepa Tisayac — in od tistega trenutka ni več poznal miru, niti mu ni bilo več mar za blaginjo njegovega ljudstva; kajti ni bila kakor oni: njena koža je bila bela, lasje zlati in oči kakor nebo; njen glas je bil kakor drozgova pesem in ga je vabil k njej, toda ko je razprl roke, se je dvignila lahkotneje od vsake ptice in izginila na nebu.

Brez njegovega vodstva je Yo Semite postala puščava, in ko se je Tisayac vrnila, je zajokala ob pogledu na koruzna polja, zarasla z grmovjem, in medvede, ki so rili tam, kjer so nekoč stale koče. Na mogočni skalni kupoli je pokleknila in prosila Velikega duha, naj deželi povrne rodovitnost. Uslišal jo je: sklonil se je z neba in po vsem dolinskem dnu razgrnil novo zeleno življenje, nato pa udaril po gorah in prebil strugo za ujete vode talečega se snega. Voda je stekla in se v skokih spustila daleč navzdol, se spodaj zbrala v jezeru in odtekala naprej, da bi oživila še druge kraje. Ptice so se vrnile, cvetlice so pognale, koruza je valovala v sapici in ljudje, ki so se vračali, so Južno kupolo, kjer je pokleknila, poimenovali Tisayac.

Nato se je domov vrnil tudi poglavar, in ko je slišal, da se je prikazala varuhinja, ga je prevzela še silnejša ljubezen kakor prej. Povzpel se je na vrh skale, ki se tri tisoč čevljev dviga nad dolino, in vanjo z lovskim nožem izklesal svojo podobo, da bi spomin nanj živel med njegovim plemenom. Ko je, utrujen od dela, sedel ob vznožju Nevestine tančice, je zagledal Tisayac, katere podoba je sijala iz vode, okrog nje pa se je bočila mavrica. Nasmehnila se mu je in mu pomignila. Njegovo iskanje je bilo končano. Z radostnim krikom je skočil v slap in izginil s Tisayac. Na padajoči vodi sta zatrepetali dve mavrici in sonce je zašlo.

Izvirnik

The vast ravine of Yo Semite (Grizzly Bear), formed by tearing apart the solid Sierras, is graced by many water-falls raining down the mile-high cliffs. The one called Bridal Veil has this tale attached to it. Centuries ago, in the shelter of this valley, lived Tutokanula and his tribe--a good hunter, he, a thoughtful saver of crops and game for winter, a wise chief, trusted and loved by his people. While hunting, one day, the tutelary spirit of the valley--the lovely Tisayac--revealed herself to him, and from that moment he knew no peace, nor did he care for the well-being of his people; for she was not as they were: her skin was white, her hair was golden, and her eyes like heaven; her speech was as a thrush-song and led him to her, but when he opened his arms she rose lighter than any bird and vanished in the sky.

Lacking his direction Yo Semite became a desert, and when Tisayac returned she wept to see the corn lands grown with bushes and bears rooting where the huts had been. On a mighty dome of rock she knelt and begged the Great Spirit to restore its virtue to the land. He did so, for, stooping from the sky, he spread new life of green on all the valley floor, and smiting the mountains he broke a channel for the pent-up meltings of the snows, and the water ran and leaped far down, pooling in a lake below and flowing off to gladden other land. The birds returned, the flowers sprang up, corn swayed in the breeze, and the people, coming back, gave the name of Tisayac to South Dome, where she had knelt.

Then came the chief home again, and, hearing that the spirit had appeared, was smitten with love more strong than ever. Climbing to the crest of a rock that spires three thousand feet above the valley, he carved his likeness there with his hunting-knife, so that his memory might live among his tribe. As he sat, tired with his work, at the foot of the Bridal Veil, he saw, with a rainbow arching around her, the form of Tisayac shining from the water. She smiled on him and beckoned. His quest was at an end. With a cry of joy he sprang into the fall and disappeared with Tisayac. Two rainbows quivered on the falling water, and the sun went down.

Nalagam bralnik