"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."
[Illustration: BOOTES AND 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."