Hare was making fun of Tortoise one day for being so slow.

“Do you ever get anywhere?” he asked with a mocking laugh.

“Yes,” replied Tortoise, “and I get there sooner than you think. I’ll run you a race and prove it.”

Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed. So Fox, who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners off.

Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until Tortoise should catch up.

Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where Hare was sleeping.

But this is where the story takes a turn. For though Tortoise did pass the place where the Hare was sleeping, it was just that—the place where the Hare was sleeping.

Startled by the thunderous plodding of Tortoise, Hare had woken up—only to realize that he’d spent all his energy so unnecessarily outpacing the Tortoise, that his nap had done him no favours: in fact, he felt more lethargic than ever.

So he took the leap of faith… right onto Tortoise’s back. Tortoise, patient as ever, continued on, scarcely noticing the light, faery of a creature snoring on his back.

When Hare at last he did wake up, Tortoise was near the goal. Hare merely waited till the latest of seconds before deftly launching himself off Tortoise’s back, just in time to claim victory.

The race is not always to the steady.