“You can, can you? We’ll see about that!”
They threw down their spades and ran after him. But Johnny Cake outstripped them also. Seeing they could never catch him, they gave up.
On ran Johnny Cake. By and by he came to a bear.
“Where are you going Johnny?” growled the bear.
“I’ve outrun an old man, an old woman, a little boy, and two well diggers, and I can outrun you, too-o-o!”
“You can, can you?” growled the bear; “we’ll see about that!”
And he rushed thump, thump, after Johnny Cake, who never stopped to look behind him. Before long the bear was left far behind, so at last, breathless and panting, he stretched himself out by the roadside to rest.
On ran Johnny Cake. By and by he came to a wolf. “Where are you going, Johnny Cake?” yelped the wolf.