"No, it's a free-for-all race, but those who have been in previous contests will have to start off first."
"Last, you mean, I guess," said Lem. "That's the proper way to handicap."
"Not for this race," Ned replied.
"Why not?"
"Because this is going to be a lazy race."
"A lazy race!" cried half a score of voices.
"Yes, a lazy race. The person or animal who comes in last, after making five circuits, wins."
"Are there going to be animals in this?" demanded Lem.
"Of course there are. This is free-for-all. Here is my entry," and Ned, turning over the box he had been standing on, disclosed a big mud turtle, that started to crawl away as soon as it got into the light.
"A mud turtle race!" cried Lem.