Part 19

"When the hunters died it is said they were taken up to the sky, and we can see them still following the Pole Star. The hunters are supposed to be the stars that form the Little Dipper."

"They are smaller than the stars of the Great Dipper," said Harry, "and the dipper is smaller, but I can see it quite well. And what are the stars between the two Dippers?"

STORY OF THE DRAGON.

"They curve in and out like a great dragon," said Mary; "and two bright stars mark its eyes."

"Yes, it does look something like a dragon," said Harry. "What is its name?"

"It is called the Dragon, as that was the name given to it by the Grecians long ago. This was supposed to be the dragon that Juno placed as guardian of a tree covered with golden apples. No one dared to touch the tree while the dread monster was there. But a brave man named Hercules was not afraid, and killed the dragon. To reward it for guarding the tree Juno placed it among the stars.

"See the two bright stars that mark the eyes of the Dragon, and quite close to it is Hercules, represented in the olden maps as crushing the head of the dragon under his foot. Bootes, who drives the Great Bear around the Pole Star, is very near Hercules. There you can see him, with his hunting dogs."

"Where, sister? I cannot see him," said Harry.

"Look right overhead, and to the west you will see Bootes with a very bright star; and to the east is Hercules, or the Kneeler, as he is sometimes called. Now, in between there is a pretty little half-circle of stars like a crown. This is called the Northern Crown."

STORIES OF THE NORTHERN CROWN.

"I can see that very well," replied Harry, "for it is exactly overhead, and I cannot help seeing Hercules and the Bear-driver. They are large enough," he continued, laughing. "Why are the little stars called the Northern Crown?"

"This was supposed to be a beautiful crown of seven stars given by Bacchus to Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, second king of Crete.

"'Her crown among the stars he placed, And with an eternal constellation grac'd, The golden circlet mounts, and as it flies Its diamonds twinkle in the distant skies.'

"There is a pretty legend told about it by the Shawnee Indians. They call this group of stars the 'Celestial Sisters,' on account of the story, which is as follows:

"White Hawk was a great hunter, handsome, tall, and strong. One day, while wandering through the forest in search of game, he suddenly found himself on the borders of a prairie. It was covered with grass, and flowers, and a ring was worn through the grass, without any path leading to or from it. White Hawk was surprised at this, so he hid behind some bushes and watched.

"'Soon he heard, high in the heavens, Issuing from the feathery clouds, Sounds of music, quick descending, As if angels came in crowds.'

"Looking up he saw a small speck in the sky which gradually became larger and larger. It was a silver basket containing twelve beautiful maidens, who leaped out as it touched the ground. They danced around in the ring, beating time on a silver ball. White Hawk gazed at the fairies in wonder, and, rushing out from his hiding place, tried to capture the youngest and prettiest. But the sisters were too nimble for him, and, jumping into the basket, they were soon far away in the sky.

"White Hawk was vexed, but he came again next day. This time he disguised himself as a rabbit, but one of the little sisters saw him creeping toward them. She gave the alarm just in time for them to escape.

"Next day White Hawk disguised himself as a mouse, and hid in the stump of a tree that he had moved close to the fairy ring. The sharp-eyed little fairy noticed that the stump was not in the same place, and warned her sisters, but they only laughed at her. They even ran around it striking it in fun. Out ran White Hawk, caught the youngest and prettiest, and took her home as his bride.

"For a while they were happy, but the 'Celestial Sister' became homesick, and longed for her sisters in the sky. One day when White Hawk was out hunting she made a silver basket and, taking it to the fairy ring, she stepped into it, while she sang a magic chant. White Hawk was returning home across the fields just as the basket rose above the tops of the trees, and, hearing the music, he knew what had happened.

"But his wife did not forget him, and her father sent for him and invited him to come to the sky, where he is now one of the bright stars shining near the Northern Crown."

"That must be the brightest star in Bootes," said Harry. "What is it called?"

"Arcturus," replied his sister. "Near Bootes is Virgo, the Virgin who lived on Earth during the Golden Age when people were very good. Near her are the scales in which she weighed the good and evil deeds of men."

STORY OF THE LION.

"Just above the Virgin, in the west, you can see some stars that look like a sickle," said Mary.

Harry looked in the direction pointed out by his sister, and there he saw the sickle plainly outlined by a few bright stars.

"Is there a story about it, sister?" he asked.

"Yes," replied his sister; "or rather there is a story not about the sickle, but about the group of stars to which it belongs, known as the constellation of the Lion.