SPLINTER FOOT BOY. 39 
them they were so sound asleep that they did not wake up and bark or 
give any warning of approach. He passed the dogs ; then he blew his 
breath again and the old woman fell over asleep. Again he blew his 
breath, and the boy fell down asleep. Medicine-Screech-Owl then 
entered the house and took the shells off of the boy. He walked around, 
looking at everything, then went away. When he was almost down 
the mountain he blew his breath and the boy woke up. He missed his 
shells at once and began to look everywhere for them. He called his 
grandmother to come and help him look, but she did not wake up. 
Finally he shook her so hard that he shook all of Medicine-Screech- 
Owl’s breath out of her, and then she woke up and helped him look 
for his shells. He went outside and found the dogs asleep ; then he knew 
that some one had been to his house and stolen his shells. He called 
the dogs, but could not wake them, and so he took a club and knocked 
the breath out of them. They woke up and at once scented Medicine- 
Screech-Owl’s tracks and started after him. The boy followed, and 
they soon came toa bigcircle of fire. Inthe midst of the burning circle 
stood Medicine-Screech-Owl, and he was wearing theshells. The boy 
had no power that would take him through fire, and so he had to return 
without his shells. Medicine-Screech-Owl kept the shells for some time, 
and then he took them back to the boy, but before he gave them to him 
he made him promise that he would not bewitch the people any more. 
19. MEDICINE-SCREECH-OWL. * 
Medicine-Screech-Owl was born at Long-Timber-on-the-Top-of-the- 
Hill. His father and mother were very old and lived near the center 
of the village. When his first birthday came he was given bow and 
arrows. His father and mother were asking each other what name 
they should give to their child, but before they could name him he 
spoke and said, ‘‘My name shall be Medicine-Screech-Owl.’’ His 
mother scolded him, because at this time there was also a man by the 
name of Medicine-Screech-Owl, and he was an ex-chief; but he said 
that he would have no other name, and so his parents named him 
Medicine-Screech-Owl. One night some one passed near the village 
and heard the child’s mother calling him by the name of the ex-chief. 
When the man came to the ex-chief’s place he told him that the child’s 
name was the same as his. When the ex-chief heard this he was 
angry, and told the people that he was going to kill the boy if he did 
not do as he should tell him todo. Hesent for him, and when the boy 
came to his lodge he gave him watermelon seed and said: ‘‘ Go back 
and plant this watermelon seed this evening. In the morning go and 
* Told by White House (Caddo Jack). 
