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The hare was once again boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never yet been beaten," said he. Looking at the short feet and slow pace of the tortoise, the hare laughed and said, "You must be the slowest animal in the world!"
The tortoise replied, "Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race."
"That is a good joke," said the hare; "I could dance round you all the way."
"Keep your boasting till you've won," answered the tortoise. "Shall we race?"
"I accept your challenge" said the hare.
On the day appointed for the race the two started together. The hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the tortoise, lay down to have a nap.
The tortoise never for a moment stopped, but plodded on with a slow and steady pace straight to the end of the course.
When the hare awoke from his nap, he ran as fast as he could but he saw the tortoise had already reached the winning-post, and was comfortably resting. Then the tortoise said:
"Slow and steady wins the race."
