One day the Hare was making fun of the Tortoise for being so slow. "Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh. "Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than you think. I'll run a race with you to prove it."

The Hare was amused at the idea of running a race with the Tortoise, and for fun he agreed. So the Fox, who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners. The Hare was soon far out of the Tortoise’s sight, and to make the Tortoise feel ridiculous the Hare lay down beside the course to take a nap.

The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the Hare slept on peacefully; and when at last he did awake, the Tortoise was near the goal line. The Hare ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.