Vevi seized her hand, holding her back. “No! That’s against the rules! He’ll be put out of the race entirely if you do.”
“Anyway, Elmer has stopped too!” exclaimed Rosemary. “That other turtle called Pete is ahead now.”
For the next few minutes, it was hard to tell which turtle was winning. First one would crawl and then another. Sometimes they would go very fast toward the finish line and then slow down.
“Clover never will win,” Jane said in despair. “He’s too lazy.”
“He is not,” Vevi defended her entry. “Look at him go now! Why, he’s almost running!” It was true. Clover had suddenly come to life again. He crawled faster and faster toward the finish line.
On the opposite side of the circle, Elmer also was moving rapidly. No one could tell which turtle would reach the chalk line first.
“Elmer wins—” the lifeguard started to say, and then he corrected himself. The turtle had stopped short just a half inch from the finish line.
“Clover is the winner!” Mr. Fulsom shouted. “An entry by the Brownie Scouts of Rosedale!”
Vevi ran to recapture Clover before he reached the water. He did not want to be picked up and tried to snap at her.
“Let him go, Vevi,” urged Connie, running up. “He wants to be free.”