nis had really deserted him for another man,
and his mind was filled with grief and rage. With his silver bow in his
hands he started at once for his home. He did not stop to speak with
any one; he had made up his mind to learn the truth for himself. His
swan-team and his golden chariot were not at hand--for, now that he was
living with men, he must travel like men. The journey had to be made on
foot, and it was no short journey in those days when there were no
roads. But after a time, he came to the village where he had lived
happily for so many years, and soon he saw his own house half-hidden
among the dark-leaved olive trees. In another minute he would know
whether the crow had told him the truth.

He heard the footsteps of some one running in the grove. He caught a
glimpse of a white robe among the trees. He felt sure that this was the
man whom the crow had seen, and that he was trying to run away. He
fitted an arrow to his bow quickly. He drew the string. Twang! And the
arrow which never missed sped like a flash of light through the air.

Apollo heard a sharp, wild cry of pain; and he bounded forward through
the grove. There, stretched dying on the grass, he saw his dear Coronis.
She had seen him coming, and was running gladly to greet him, when the
cruel arrow pierced her heart. Apollo was overcome with grief. He took
her form in his arms, and tried to call her back to life again. But it
was all in vain. She could only whisper his name, and then she was dead.

A moment afterwards the crow alighted on one of the trees near by.
"Cor--Cor--Cor," it began; for it wanted now to finish its story. But
Apollo bade it begone.

"Cursed bird," he cried, "you shall never say a word but
'Cor--Cor--Cor!' all your life; and the feathers of which you are so
proud shall no longer be white, but black as midnight."

And from that time to this, as you very well know, all crows have been
black; and they fly from one dead tree to another, always crying,
"Cor--cor--cor!"

V. DISGRACED.

Soon after this, Apollo took the little AEsculapius in his arms and
carried him to a wise old schoolmaster named Cheiron, who lived in a
cave under the gray cliffs of a mountain close by the sea.

"Take this child," he said, "and teach him all the lore of the
mountains, the woods, and the fields. Teach him those things which he
most needs to know in order to do great good to his fellow-men."

And AEsculapius proved to be a wise child, g