Florence Shaughnessy

"The Young Man from Serper" (1951)

Writing system: no hyphens | hyphens
Display style: paragraph | sentence | look-up

Text identifier: LA16-7
Speaker: Florence Shaughnessy
Primary documentation: R. H. Robins
Edition: R. H. Robins, The Yurok Language (1958), pp. 164-165
Note: According to Robins (on the audio recording), this story "belongs to the Serper family."

Yurok audio:

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Noohl hee-kon pe-cheek ho 'ok'w pe-rey, tue' wo-'oot ho 'ok'ws 'uek-'ep-'ew.
Once upon a time an old woman lived up the river, and she had her grandson there with her.
Tue' 'o chah-chew ho soo me-ge-tohl-kwo'm kue 'uek-'ep-'ew.
It was difficult for her to look after her grandson.
K'ehl nue-mee to'm kue me-wah, kwe-see keet 'o pe'l weet 'o so'n kes-kee chpee nee ye-gok'w mos wey 'ue-kert-kerk'.
The boy was very small, but as he began to grow up it turned out that all he would do was to go down to the water's edge and was never done with fishing for trout.
K'ee kwen cho koh-che-wo'-meesh kem 'ap nahch-pue'm kue 'ue-kue-chos.
Whatever he caught he gave to his grandmother.
Tue' keet 'o sku'y soo 'ok'w kue pe-rey mee' nee-ko'l ko'l 'we-so'nk-'e-nek' kue me-wah.
And then the old woman began to live better because the boy was always catching something in his fishing.
Keet 'o pe'l 'em-kee k'ee too-me-nee so-no-wo-nee ch'ue'ch-'eesh tue' nue-mee chue ke-goh-che'w, kem 'o ge'm kue pe-rey:
He began to get bigger and then he would catch all sorts of birds, and the old woman said:
Tos kwe-lekw skuye'n 'we-re'-noh; ko'l sook wee' kee mehl ko hoh-kue-me'm; wek kee ne-kue'.
Child, this one's feather is pretty; you will make something with this; we will put it away.
'Emkee keech 'o nue-mee pe'l keech 'o chee-no-me-wes, tue' weet so'n chpee 'wet-meee-gok'.
Then he quite grew up and became a young man, and it turned out that all he did was to hunt.
Kwe-see koh-chee ko-lo 'o gee', Cho' noohl soh-chee soo-too'm.
And once it seemed as if something said to him, Go way up into the hills.
Kwe-see 'ap ne-wo'm wee-'eeet 'oyhl nue-mee chey murnter-'ery kep-che-neesh.
And he saw lying there a tiny white fawn.
Kwe-see 'ap hlo'm 'o ne-ge'm ko-lo-kween soo sku'y so-nee-nep'.
And he took it and carried it away and felt very pleased.
Kwe-see 'ap ha'm, Hahl neee'-nes, kuech, kwe-lekw keech koh-che-wok', tue' nek ka-'ar wee' kee yoh.
And he said, Look, grandmother, I have caught this, and I will make it a pet.
Pekw 'ue te-wo-mehl kue pe-rey.
The old woman was very glad.
Kwe-see weet keech 'o so'n keech 'o goo-ro'-rep' kue 'ue-ka-'ar.
And it turned out that his pet ran around there.
Kol-chee ko'l soo-tok'w kue chee-nes kem tue' se-ga'-nee poy 'o chee nue raa-yo'r kue 'ue-ka-'ar.
Whenever the young man went anywhere his pet would often run right on ahead of him.
Keech 'o pe'l kue ka-'ar, tue' 'o se-go'n se-ga-'a-nee 'o me-ne-chok'w.
The pet grew up, and it often happened that it disappeared in these runs.
Kem tue' ne-geee'-no'w se-ga'-nee noohl soh-chee 'ue gek'ws.
And he would look for it and frequently found it high up in the hills.
Koh-chee 'o ge'-we'hl kue chee-nes, 'ap new, te-ma-loh ne-geee'n kue 'ue-ka-'ar.
Once the young man woke up, looked, (and) searched in vain for his pet.
Kwe-see keech mo-'ok'w.
It was not there.
Noohl nee-kee 'woo-ro'r 'we-ne-geee'-no-wok' kues kee won keech soo-tok'w.
Then he ran straight off to look where else it could have gone.
Kue 'ue-kue-chos kem 'e-ma ha'm, Nee-mee hes ne-woo'm kuech kue 'ne-ka-'ar?
He also asked his grandmother, Haven't you seen my pet, grandmother?
Kem 'o ge'm, Paa tos mos k'ee we'yk-'oh 'ue-wook ko'l 'o ne-wook'.
She said, No, child, I have not seen anything here this morning.
Tue' 'woo-ro'r, tue' 'ok'ws 'we-rah-cheen kue chee-nes, weesh-tue' 'o soo-to'l.
Then he ran off, and the young man had a friend, and so he went to him.
'Eme ga'm, Chue kue neee-ge'-yoh kue ne-geee'-no-woh; kwe-lekw keech me-ne-chok'w kue 'ne-ka-'ar.
He said, Let us both go together and look; my pet has disappeared.
Tue' te-ma-loh ko'-see ne-geee'-no-wohl; kem 'o nuue'm ske-leesh 'o 'oo-lee-nehl.
And for a long time they looked everywhere; and they came back and lay down.
Chmey-yo-nen 'o ge's, Nek soo muehl-cho' wee'shk'oh nes-kwe-cho'l.
In the evening he thought, I believe that maybe it will come back now.
'Owook koy kem 'o neee'n; paa mos chee-taa ko'l 'o ge-gok'w.
The following morning they looked for it again; but no, there was nothing moving about there.
Tue' noo so'n; tue' mey-kwe-le'-we'y kue chee-nes keech so'n ne-kee-let' kue ho 'ue-ka-'ar.
So it went on; and the young man mourned its loss and came to pine for his pet.
Kwe-see koh-chee ko-lo 'ee-mee sku'y soo chke'y, ko-lo 'o ko'-mo'y ko-lo keech ko'l 'o chween.
Then once it seems he was not sleeping soundly, and he heard something apparently talking to him.
'O gee', Nah cho he'-wo-neehl-kwe-ne'm kue k'e-rah-cheen kes-kee cho' le'-mo'w.
He was told, Wake your friend up and both of you go down to the water.
Cho' poy ko 'o key kue k'e-rah-cheen, ke'l cho' hee-noy 'oo-lo-'oh.
Your friend is to sit in the front of the boat, and you stand behind.
Ko-wee-cho kwehl me-hlow-ne-me'm k'e'-goo'; kee nue-mee nee koo-'o-pe'm.
Don't touch your paddle; you are just to stand there.
Weesh-tue' 'e-nue-mee so'n.
So he did just as he was told.
'Eme ge'-wo-nee'hl kue 'we-rah-cheen, kes-keesh 'o le'-mehl.
His friend woke up, (and) they went down to the water.
'Yon-cheesh keech 'o key 'o po-yew kue 'we-rah-cheen, 'o neee'-no'w; 'ee-mee ko'l wo soch.
His friend sat in the boat in front and watched; they did not speak.
Noohl 'o pah-chew kue 'yoch pa-'aahl 'ee-kee cho slo-yo-nekw, tue' nee-kee 'we-ro-'o-ne-pek'.
Then the boat moved and slid down into the water, and then sped along.
Kue nue-mee laa-kaa-mo-peen tue' laa-yo-nekw kue 'yoch ko-lo nee-mee kaa-mop' 'o wee' mee' ko-lo wo-rue nee raa-yo'r.
The boat passed through patches of very rough water as though it was quite smooth, as it seemed to move along on top of the water.
Kwe-see noohl 'o ne-wo'm 'we-sek' kwe-lekw pue-le-kuek wee keet 'we-son-cho-yek'.
Then he saw that it was being taken down the river.
Kwe-see hehl-kew 'e-la new kue ko'l we-no-'o-mo'r kwe-see Se-gep, keech ko'-mo'y 'we-go-yek' kwe-lekw keech hlo-yehl kue chee-nes mehl hee-ko'ch-'uek.
From up in the hills Coyote had seen where something was moving along, (and) had heard tell that the two young men were being carried down from across the river.
'O ge's Se-gep, Kwe-lekw paas ko knok-sey-yek'.
Coyote thought, Well, I will not be left behind.
'Inee kee cho kwe-lekw te-noo kee mehl 'e'-gah k'ee kwe-nee keet 'we-le'-mehl.
There is bound to be plenty more to eat wherever they are going.
Pekw-sue 'e-lekw me-ge-lok' nek.
Shan't I go too?
Hehl-kue nee raa-yo'r, kwe-see kol-chee ko'l 'ok'w hehl-kue nes-kwee 'e-mehl raa-yo'r kue 'yoch.
He ran along the bank, and whenever he got to any point on the riverside the boat was passing near him.
Kem weet 'e-la myah Se-gep kem 'ap new kwe-see ha-see puer noohl keech we-no'-mo-nekw we-no-'o-mo'r kue 'yoch.
And in this way Coyote jumped along and saw the boat floating down and moving toward the mouth of the river.
Kem nee-kee 'we-ro' Se-gep hehl-kue nee raa-yo'r so Ho'p-'ew.
Then Coyote ran and came along the bank to Hop'ew (Klamath).
Kem noohl 'e-la myah 'ap new kwe-see noohl hee-puer keech we-no'-mo-nekw kue 'yoch.
He jumped and saw the boat already moving far down stream.
Nee-kee chpee-wee ko soo no'r Se-gep hehl-kue 'we-raa-yo'r, keech no'p-'e'n kue 'yoch.
The Coyote ran for all his might along the bank to pass it, and chased after the boat.
Kwe-see 'O Re-gos noohl 'e-la myah kwe-see kue he-won 'we-see-yo-wek'.
Then he leaped on to the rock Oregos as the boat was first breasting the breakers.
Kue 'O Re-gos keet 'o maa-yo-new kue 'yoch, kwe-see wee-'eeet 'yon-cheek 'o ko ho myah Se-gep noohl wo-nekw mehl te-kwo-nue'r.
It was just going to pass the rock, and Coyote jumped in and came crashing down from high up into it.
Noohl 'o ga'm, 'Ey, 'nek-'ep-'e-wo-roh, nek kwe-lekw kee me-ge-lok' k'ee kwe-nee k'e-le'-mo'w, 'ohl-kue-mee nek soo ke-lew kwe-lekw nee-mee kee sku'y soo hoo-le'-mo'w mo nee-mee 'ok'w weesh k'ee mehl chwe-geen-kep' k'ee kwen cho soo hoo-le'-mo'w.
Then he said, Yes, my grandchildren, I will come with you wherever you are going, for I think you will not get on well if there is no one who will speak on your behalf wherever you may go.
Tue' nee-kee 'we-roo-yo-new kue 'yoch; we-hlo-waa nee-ma koh-chee see-yo'w 'o pue-lekw, noohl 'o maa-yo-nekw kue 'yoch.
Then the boat sped on; eleven times it broke through the waves at the mouth of the river, and then the boat went on its way.
Tue' wee-'eeet 'o so'n 'em-kee nee-kee 'we-ro-'o-ne-pek'; woh-pew nee-kee ro-'o-nep'.
So it was that it sped on; it sped on toward the west.
To' chpaa-nee noohl 'o go-'oh-ko'hl, soo nee ro-'o-nep' kue 'yoch.
Then it was dark for a long time, and the boat still sped on.
Kwe-see kue weet 'o-wook ke-choyk 'o ne-wee' ko-lo 'ee ne-wee' 'we-sey-yek' kwe-lekw ko'l sook poy 'ue-we-no-'o-mue-rehl.
The next morning they looked and fancied they saw some things swimming ahead of them.
Tue' kem Se-gep kem keech 'e-kwehl keech mee chween-kep', mee' ho to-mo-wo'hl tue' hlow keech 'o chkee-ree-shee' kue wee 'o key, tue' nee-mee wo he-won ne-wo'm 'we-sek' kwe-lekw ko-lo hlkehl wee'.
Even Coyote was now afraid and did not talk, because he had been chattering and at last had felt drowsy where he was sitting, and was not the first to see that it looked like land in sight.
Noohl 'o ne-wee' kwe-see mues-chen hlkehl wee' woop-'eek nue-mee 'o-lo-nekw.
Then they saw that it really was land lying right out in the ocean.
Tue' koo-see muen-chey k'ee chaahl, to' kwehl na-'a'-mo'w 'o wee-'eeet noohl reeek-'ew nee ko-'oh kue 'we-neee'-no-woyk' kue wee 'ee ko 'uem-yah kue 'yoch.
And the sand was all white, and a crowd of people were standing on the shore to watch the boat bounding in there.
Noohl 'o schep-'oo; kue so schep-'oo noohl 'o ne-wee' kue hehl-kue 'we-le'-mek' kue 'ech-kwoh, kwe-see wo'hl tue' weesh ho re-wey-ye-tehl kue 'yoch.
Then they landed; when they landed they saw that there were seals going ashore, and that it was they that had towed the boat.
Kwe-see noohl kue nee-'eeen we'-yon wee 'e-la nuue'm 'o ga'm, We-no-'e'-mekw kue ne-kah 'no-'o'hl; kee le'-moh.
And then two girls arrived there and one said, Come to our house; we will be going.
Nek soo keech ke-gey-chek mee' chpaa-neek' wee k'e-me'-wo-me'-mo'w.
I am sure you are tired for your voyage here has been long.
Se-gep poy nee-kee 'oo'-rep', tue' keech ro-'op' kue 'we-ne-geee'n kues soo 'oo-le'-mo'w k'ee wee nee 'oo-le'-mo-nee.
Coyote went on ahead, and ran to see how people lived who lived there.
Wo-new 'o le'm 'o'-lep 'e-la noh-pe-wee'm; kwe-see 'o koo-'op' chee-nes.
The two young men went up to the house and entered; and there stood another young man.
Noohl 'o ga'm, Wok-hlew keech k'e-nes-kwe-chook' tey.
Then he said, I am glad that you have come, brother-in-law.
'O ga'm, Chue cho' nue ko we-ge-sah.
And then he said, Let us go and bathe ourselves.
Lekw-seek 'o le'm keech te-goo'-mehl kue nee 'oh-kween chee-nes.
They went outside and were all together at the young man's dwelling.
Kwe-see Se-gep noohl 'o ge's, To' ch'ue-me'y 'ue-mer-ger-mery k'ee we'-yon.
Then Coyote thought, How very pretty that girl is.
Nek soo wee ko'l chee-ner-mer-werh kwehl nek.
I think I will get acquainted a little with her.
Me-chee 'ee rek-'eeen kue keech 'ue-wey 'ue-pe-wo-mue', 'e-nue-mee wo-gee 'ap key Se-gep.
They were sitting by the fire when the cooking was finished, and Coyote sat down right in the middle.
Kwe-see mos chee-taa wo neee'-no-wee' kue wee 'o key.
No notice whatever was taken of him where he sat.
Kwe-see kue wee 'o noh-pe-wee'm keech 'e-la 'e'-gah kue nuue'-mo-nee.
The two who had arrived had a meal when they came in.
Noohl kues kee shoo mee' ko-lo-nee kah-se-lo-pehl, kues k'ee kwe-nee ho wee' nuue'-mehl, mee' koo-see muen-chey k'ee chaahl, mos wee nuue-wee' weet 'we-soo ko 'oo-le'-mo'w.
Then how could they feel strange, (wondering) where on earth they had come to at this place, for the sand was all white, and they had never seen people living like this.
Noohl 'o ga'm kue we'-yon, Noohl kee sku'y soo 'rper-chek' k'ee wee k'e-mehl nes-kwe-chook'.
Then one of the girls said, Now I will tell you in full why you have come here.
Nek wee' kue ho k'e-ka-'ar.
I am your former pet.
Keech chpaa-neek' 'ee lekw-see 'ne-'e'-goo-lo-'oh kem tue' 'ee-kee ne-wo-chek' kue ho soo 'oo-lom.
For a long time I stayed outside, and then I saw how you lived.
'Ikee ne-wook' kue k'es-ku'y soo 'ook' tue wee-'eeet mehl peer-werk-see-chek'.
I saw that you were good and I loved you for it.
Tue' nek wee' ko-'o-yue-mek' kue 'ech-kwoh 'nek-sek', Chee nue hl'os.
It was I who engaged the seals, saying to each of them, Go and fetch him.
Tue' 'ne-let, kem 'o ge-sek' kwe-lokw kee serh-ker-mery-pe-we'm 'o yoh mo kee-mee neee-ge'-yue' kue k'e-rah-cheen; tue' wo-'oot weesh-tue' kee 'wah-pew kue 'ne-let.
I have a sister, and I thought that you would be lonely here if you did not bring your friend; and my sister may be his wife.
'O ge's, Chuue'.
He thought, Well.
Noohl weesh-tue' 'o soo's 'we-sek', Kwe-see we'-yon wee' kue ho 'ne-ka-'ar, kwe-see weet 'ee mehl ko'-mee ho soo noo-lue-mek'.
And then he thought, So this girl is my former pet, and that is why I loved her so much.
Noohl keech 'o sku'y soo kem peer-werk-see-pew, keech noohl 'o 'we-gah, weesh 'o chpaa-na'r keech 'o sku'y soo 'oo-le'-mehl, keech 'oo-le'm 'uuek.
Then they loved one another well, and were married, and lived long and happily, and had children.
Kwe-see 'eesh-kuue ne-wo'm kue wen-chokws weet keech so'n kue 'we-nos noohl wo-nue noohl nee ye-gok'w kem tue' ko'l 'ee key.
Then gradually the woman noticed that it happened that her husband would go far up in the hills and sit somewhere there.
Chpaa-nee neee'-no'w ho pa-'aahl.
For a long time he would gaze out over the water.
Kwe-see koh-chee hee-noy 'o 'o-ro-gok'w kue wen-chokws 'ap ha'm, 'Aa-wokw, 'ne-nos, ko-lo ko'l sook nee shoo-se'm.
And one day the woman followed him and said, Alas, my husband, you seem to have something on your mind.
'O ga'm, Paa, to' wee 'ee key, mos ko'l soo-sek'.
He said, No, I sit here, but I have nothing on my mind.
Kwe-see ye'm kue 'wah-pew, Nek soo, nek kom-chue-mek' k'ee wee mehl so-no-wo'm; ko'l kee 'e-la key ko-lo k'e-neee'n.
Then his wife said, I think, nay I know, how you are; you keep sitting here and gazing.
Nek soo kwe-lekw k'e-serh-ker-mery wee'.
I think you are homesick here.
Ske-wok-see-me'm hes kee k'e-ke-mey-yek'?
Do you want to go back home?
Kem 'o ga'm, Paa.
Again he said, No.
'O ga'm, Nek kwe-lokw kom-chue-mek' mues-chen k'e-serh-ker-mery-pewk'.
She said, Well, I know that really you are homesick.
Kwe-lekw kee yek-chek' mo-cho kee ye-se'm, Kee ke-mey-yek', nek kee kem 'o goh-kue-mek' kee shoo ke-mey-ye'm.
And I will tell you that if you decide, 'I will go home', I will arrange it that you shall go home.
Kwe-see ye's, Kwe-lekw kue gek-sek' kue 'ne-rah-cheen, nek kwe-lekw kee-tee ke-mey-yek'.
Then he thought, I will go and tell my friend, and I shall go home.
Kwe-see 'o noh-pe'w 'o kue 'we-rah-cheen 'oh-kween 'ap ha'm, Chue kee ke-me'-yoh.
He went in where his friend lived and said, Let us both go home.
Kwe-lokw kee yoh-kue' kee 'ne-ke-me'-yoh.
Arrangements can be made for us to go home.
Kwe-see 'o ge's kue 'we-rah-cheen, Paa, now, nek kwe-lekw nee-mok-sue me-ge-lok'.
Then his friend thought, No, friend, I will not go with you.
Keech no-wee-ne-pek' yok 'no-'ook' mee' keech 'oo-le'm 'ne-me-key tue' nee-mok-sue knok-see-mek'.
I now like living here; I have my children and I will not leave them.
'O ga'm, Nek kwe-lekw kee ke-mey-yek'; nek kwe-lekw kee kwom-hle-chook'.
The other said, Well, I shall go home; I shall return.
'Aa-wokw, 'aa-wokw, 'we-le-pe-hlek' 'we-we-chek' kue 'ne-kue-chos, mee' nek soo nee-mee kom-chue'm k'ee kwe-nee so 'ne-me-ne-chook'.
Alas, alas that my grandmother's life is a burden to her, as I fear that she does not know where I have disappeared to.
Kwe-see keech 'ee 'o so'n kee kem 'we-lah-chue'.
And so it came about that the boat was launched.
Kwe-see 'o new to' na-'a'-mo'w ko'l sook wee laa-me-net-kwe-le-see'.
And then they saw there was a crowd and that something was being dragged along there.
Kwe-see kue Se-gep wee keech ma 'ue-me-net-kwe-le-soyk'.
It was Coyote being dragged along.
Kwe-lekw keech koo-see maa-ma-'e-po-yew, 'yon-cheek 'e-me loo, mee' keech che-gey-yo-nah-pee' kue Se-gep kue keech no-'o-mehl 'o wee'.
He was all tied up, and thrown into the boat, because people were fed up with Coyote ever since he had been there.
Kol-chee ko'l 'o pe-gar kem tue' 'o'-lep 'o myah 'we-go-lek', Kuech, nee mok'w hes 'oyhl kee ne-pek'?
Whenever anyone was at home he leaped into the house and said, Grandmother, isn't there anything lying here for me to eat?
Kem 'o gee', Lekw-seek soot-'os!
And he was told, Be off outside!
Tee'n k'ee kwe-nee so-no-wo-nee tee'n kwe-nee nuek'-wo 'o yoh?
Who are you and what on earth are you doing here?
Yo' kem 'o ro': Yaha, ko-lo wek 'o ket-'op' 'ahs-pey-yue'r; hahl kee ko nooych.
He ran up again: Yaha, it seems there is some soup in the pot here; I think I will have some.
'Ikee mar-kue'm, kem 'o ko'-mo'y kem kue pe-rey 'ue-ko-weesh ne-ge'm.
Then he gobbled it all up, and heard the old woman pick up her stick.
Chee now soot-'os! Kwehl kem keet ke-mo-le'm nee wee'.
Be off! You are just going to steal again.
'Ih! Tyoh-pey-yok-see-chek'. Ko-wee-cho kem nuek'-wo laa-ye'm!
Ugh! I hate you. Don't come here again!
Ko-wee-cho kem 'o'-lep nuek'-wo laa-ye'm ko'l k'e-ke-mo-lek'!
Don't come to the house again to steal something!
Wee keech cho ko'-see che-gey-yo-nah-pee', kwe-see wee-'eeet noohl 'yon-cheek ma ko loo.
So he was now hated by everyone, and therefore he was thrown into the boat.
Kue keech 'we-goo noohl 'o lah-chue'.
After a shout the boat was thrust out into the sea.
Kem noohl 'o nes-kwe-cho'l ho k'ee wek 'wehl-ke-lo-nah.
Then the young man came back again to this part of the world.
'O pe-chues 'ee-kee shoo-to'l, kue 'we-nes-kwe-chook' ho pe-chues 'ap new kwe-see choo-mee' keech ko'l so'n kue ho 'ue-kue-chos.
At once he went up the river, and when he arrived there he saw that it was now a long time since his grandmother had died.
Mos chee-taa kue 'wo-'o'hl; kem keech le-kwo'hl, mos chee-taa ko'l sook ko-ma ko 'ok'w.
His house was no more; it had fallen down, and nothing remained.
Noohl 'o ge's, To' we-see-neek' keech so-no-wok'!
Then he thought, What a terrible thing has befallen me!
Noohl keech yok 'ee nue ker-gerk'.
Now I have come to be here alone.
Ch'ue-me'y keech ma 'nes-ku'y soo 'ook' 'o hee-koh, tue' keech knok-see-mek'.
Now happily I was living across the water, and I have left it all.
Tue' wee-'eeet mehl heee-gee' 'oohl pekw-sue 'o skuye'n mo-cho ko'-mee ha's, Kee-kee chue 'ok'w.
And so for this we say that it is not good if a person thinks too much, I will have everything.
Kwe-lekw wee-'eeet sku'y soo he-wech' 'oohl mo nee ko'l 'oo-le'm te-ne'm 'we-too'-mar 'em-see 'we-cheeek.
But a person lives happily if somewhere he has plenty of friends and his money.
Kem 'ok'w paas weesh-tue' yo' nee ye-go'l 'we-sek' kee nue-mee chue kue nee-mee kwe-les k'ee 'we-nah, ha's, Kos-'e-la nek 'ne-nah.
Then he does not go around thinking that what is not his property should all be his, (and he does not) think, Would that it were mine.