` Would you like to try which of us is the stronger ? ' said he . The whale looked at him , sent up another fountain , and answered : ` Oh , yes ; certainly . When do you wish to begin ? I am quite ready . ' ` Then give me one of your longest bones , and I will fasten it to my leg . When I give the signal , you must pull , and we will see which can pull the hardest . ' ` Very good , ' replied the whale ; and he took out one of his bones and passed it to the tortoise . The tortoise picked up the end of the bone in his mouth and went back to the elephant . ' I will fasten this to your leg , ' said he , ` in the same way as it is fastened to mine , and we must both pull as hard as we can . We shall soon see which is the stronger . ' So he wound it carefully round the elephant 's leg , and tied it in a firm knot . ` Now ! ' cried he , plunging into a thick bush behind him . The whale tugged at one end , and the elephant tugged at the other , and neither had any idea that he had not the tortoise for his foe . When the whale pulled hardest the elephant was dragged into the water ; and when the elephant pulled the hardest the whale was hauled on to the land . They were very evenly matched , and the battle was a hard one . At last they were quite tired , and the tortoise , who was watching , saw that they could play no more . So he crept from his hiding-place , and dipping himself in the river , he went to the elephant and said : ' I see that you really are stronger than I thought . Suppose we give it up for to-day ? '
Then he dried himself on some moss and went to the whale and said : ' I see that you really are stronger XXXXX I thought .
So as at behind for from of than that to