The Tiger and the Tortoise
One evening when the Tortoise was slowly walking up a mountain path she was brusquely ordered out of the way by a Tiger who wished to drink at the river.
"Out of my way, Tortoise! You are only hindering me and you know I can run faster than you!"
"Run faster than I!" exclaimed the Tortoise indignantly; "it's a lie!"
"Will you bet on it?" queried the Tiger.
"Certainly. You see these twelve hills. I bet you I will climb them all before you."
"Done!"
As it was then getting late they agreed to postpone the trial of speed to the next day. The Tortoise, however, was not idle during the night, but called together twelve of her sisters, to whom she gave instructions to take up their stations on the top of each of the twelve hills and to pretend to the Tiger that it was his rival whom he found waiting for him.
Her instructions were carried out to the letter and daybreak found each of the tortoises at her post.