Turtle was vexed, for he did not wish Beaver to win, and so he did not insist upon the under water test. He was also crafty. So he said:
“Whoever wins the race shall stay here; whoso loses shall depart. First we shall have a trial of racing, and then the race will begin.”
So they both came abreast in the water and started to swim. Soon Turtle called Beaver back. “Now we will begin again,” said he, with a wicked gleam in his black beady eye.
As they were about to start, Turtle said, “I will purposely lag behind. When I pinch your tail then we will both start swimming.”
Soon Turtle bit Beaver’s tail and both started swimming, but crafty Turtle hung onto Beaver and was dragged through the water until within sight of shore, when he bit harder than ever.
Beaver gave a big grunt and whistled, “So you are there behind me? Well, I will win yet!”
Turtle bit again, this time harder than ever, making Beaver squeal with pain. “I’ll fix you for this,” he called, and flopped his tail over his head. Turtle hung on, and when he felt himself over Beaver’s head he let go and continued to speed through the air like a flying squirrel. Far upon the shore he landed, way ahead of Beaver.
“I have won this race,” he called back defiantly. “You must go away from here; this is my fishing pond.”
Thereupon, Beaver was greatly vexed, and swam away to nurse his sore tail. Turtle had outwitted him.