in the middle of the race the badger found his boat going to pieces, for the water now began to soften the clay. he cried out in great fear to the rabbit to help him. but the rabbit answered that he was avenging the old woman's murder, and that this had been his intention all along, and that he was happy to think that the badger had at last met his deserts for all his evil crimes, and was to drown with no one to help him. then he raised his oar and struck at the badger with all his strength till he fell with the sinking clay boat and was seen no more.