The hare was once boasting of his speed before the otheranimals. "I have never yet been beaten," Said he, "When I putforth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with me." The tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge." "That is a good joke," Said the hare; "I could dance round youall the way." "Keep your boasting till you've beaten," Answered thetortoise. "Shall we race?" So a course was fixed1 and a start was made. The hare dartedalmost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show hiscontempt for the tortoise, lay down to have a nap. The tortoiseplodded2 on and plodded on, and when the hare awoke from his nap,he saw the tortoise just near the winning-post and could not runup in time to save the race. Then said the tortoise: 
Plodding3 wins the race. 