A hare boasted loudly to a tortoise of her speed in running, at the
same time giving him a look of scorn because of his slowness.
"Let us have a race," answered the tortoise. "I will run with you five
miles, and the fox over yonder shall be the judge."
The hare with a scornful smile agreed, and away they started together.
Soon the hare left the tortoise far behind, and feeling a little tired,
lay down on a tuft of grass that grew by the way. "If that slow-coach
passes, I shall see him and easily catch up with him again," she said
to herself, and fell asleep.
In the meantime the tortoise plodded on, slowly but surely. After a
time, he passed the hare, who, sure of reaching the goal first, still
slept, and who awoke only to find the tortoise had reached it before
her.