after walking for some time without a path , musing upon the open country , and enjoying the fragrant breeze , he suddenly came to a ring worn among the grass and the flowers . it was as if it had been made by footsteps moving lightly round and round . but it was strange - so strange as to cause the white hawk to pause and gaze long and fixedly upon the ground . there was no path which led to this flowery circle . there was not even a crushed leaf nor a broken twig , nor the least trace of a footstep , approaching or retiring , to be found . he thought he would hide himself and lie in wait to discover , if he could , what this strange circle meant . presently he heard the faint sounds of music in the air . he looked up in the direction they came from , and as the magic notes died away he saw a small object , like a little summer cloud that approaches the earth , floating down from above . at first it was very small , and seemed as if it could have been blown away by the first breeze that came along . but it rapidly grew as he gazed upon it , and the music every moment came clearer and more sweetly to his ear . as it neared the earth it appeared as a basket , and it was filled with twelve sisters , of the most lovely forms and enchanting beauty . as soon as the basket touched the ground they leaped out . they began straightway to dance , in the most joyous manner , around the magic ring , striking , as they did so , a shining ball , which uttered the most ravishing melodies , and kept time as they danced .
twelve sisters .
who appeared out of the basket ?
who appeared out of the basket ?