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.