A hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow
pace of the Tortoise, who replied, laughing:
"Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you
in a race." The Hare, believing her assertion to
be simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and
they agreed that the Fox should choose the course
and fix the goal. On the day appointed for the race
the two started together. The Tortoise never for a
moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady
pace straight to the end of the course. The Hare,
lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At
last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he
saw the Tortoise had reached the goal, and was
comfortably dozing after her fatigue.