Once more Demo tossed an apple. This time it went even more off the path. Nevertheless she ran after it, returned to the race.
She laughed.
"You think to distract me? I have but begun to run. But don't worry, I'll wait for you at the finish line."
And now they were abreast!
He tossed once more, the last of the apples.
His eyes widened. The fox imp rose from the roadside bushes, seized the apple, and disappeared again, chortling.
Atalanta would now be concerned only with the race! How could he possibly beat her! Ah, if only he had one more of the golden apples. Sadly he staggered on. There was no way he could beat her!
He had failed!
He reckoned not with Vulcan's skill!
Atalanta lost all thought of the race, ran madly after the fox imp. The imp, looking back, saw her quick approach and dropped the apple. It skipped sideways, dashed into the forest without a glance behind.