The Deer and the Snail

The deer said to the snail, “I can run faster than you.”

“You cannot,” replied the snail. “You cannot tell what one can do by looking at him.”

“I will bet you that I can,” said the deer.

“What will you bet?” asked the snail without any fear. He had a plan for winning the race.

“Let us see who can run first to a town across the plain,” said the deer, “and the one who loses, he and all his people shall be servants to the other and his people.”

“I agree,” replied the snail. “Let it be so.”

The snail went and told all his people about the race. He stationed them at a certain distance apart along the way they were to run, and had one snail stop in the town to which the race was to be made.

The snail knew he could not run, and so he sought the help of all his people. But the deer felt so confident of winning the race against the snail that he did not tell any of his people.

The Deer and the Snail in a race.

Having gotten all his people arranged, the snail told the deer that he was ready for the race. Off they went.

About a mile away the deer came to a river, and when he got there the snail’s brother cried out, “I am here too and you must carry me across.”

“All right,” said the deer, “but I have not started to run yet.”

The deer ran to the next river and a snail cried out again,” I am here and you must carry me across.”

The deer carried him across, and said, “I see I must run to beat you.”

So the deer began to do his best in running.

When he got to the next river the snail cried out, “I have been here a long time, deer. What have you been doing so long? You must carry me across too.”

The deer carried him across, and started on his last run to the town.

The deer ran and he ran; at length all exhausted he reached the town, and as soon as he entered he saw the snail. The deer hallooed and ran away without waiting for the judge to decide the race. And ever since that day when the deer sees the snail he is afraid and he runs.