26 THE RACE

Slow-but-Sure was a tortoise.
By-and-By was a hare.
One day Slow-but-Sure was creeping along when she met By-and-By.
“Good morning, my friend,” said By-and-By. “Do you not wish that you could run as fast as I can?”
“You can run very fast,” said Slow-but-Sure, “but I think that I could beat you in a race.”
“You! beat me in a race!” cried By-and-By. “Oh, we shall see about that!”
“Very well, I am willing,” said Slow-but-Sure. “Here comes Reynard the Fox. He shall be judge of the race.”
“Good morning, my friends,” said Reynard the Fox. “What are you talking about?” “Slow-but-Sure says that she can beat me in a race. What do you think of that?” said By-and-By.
“Perhaps she can,” said Reynard the Fox. “Why don’t you start here and run across the fields to the great oak tree?”
“Let us try it,” said Slow-but-Sure.
So Reynard the Fox said, “Get on your mark. Ready—set—go! ” And off they started.
By-and-By went like the wind.
Slow-but-Sure crept slowly along.
The hare ran swiftly across one field.
Then he looked back, but he could not see the tortoise.
“Oh, what fine clover! I shall stop and eat some,” said By-and-By. “Then I shall take a nap, for I wish Slow-but-Sure to see me, when I win the race.”
So he ate the clover, and then he fell asleep.
He took a long nap.
Slow-but-Sure did not stop to rest.
She plodded on and on while By-and-By was sleeping.
So she reached the oak tree first.
When By-and-By awoke he looked up and down the fields.
Then he ran to the tree, and there was the tortoise!
“Ah!” said Reynard the Fox, “Slow-but-Sure wins the race.”