“No, no,” said the hedgehog, “not in such a hurry as that. I must ge
home first and get something to eat. In half an hour I will be here again.”

The hare agreed to wait, and away went the hedgehog, thinking to himself:
“The hare trusts in his long legs, but I will conquer him. He thinks himself
a very grand gentleman, but he is only a stupid fellow, after all, and he will
have to pay for his pride.” .

On arriving at home, the hedgehog said to his wife: ‘‘ Wife, dress yourself
as quickly as possible; you must go to the field with me.”

‘‘What for?” she asked.

«Well, I have made a bet with the hare of a louis d’or and a bottle of
wine that I will: beat him in a race, which we are going to run.”

“Why, husband,” cried Mrs. Hedgehog, with a scream, “what are you:
thinking of? Have you lost your senses?”

“Hold your noise, ma’am,” said the hedgehog, “and don’t interfere with
my affairs. What do you know about a man’s business? Get ready at once to
go with me.” 3

What could Mrs. Hedgehog say after this? She could only obey and fol-
low her husband, whether she liked it or not. As they walked along, he said to
her: “Now, pay attention to what I say. You see that large field? Welt,
we are going to race across it. The hare will race in one furrow, and I in
another. All you have to do is to hide yourself in the furrow at the opposite
end of the field from which we start, and when the hare comes up to you, pop
up your head and say: ‘Here I ai.”

As they talked, the hedgehog and his wife reached the place in the field
where he wished her to stop, and then went back and found the hare at the
starting-place, ready to receive him.

“Do you really mean it?” he asked.

“Yes, indeed,” replied the hedgehog, “I am quite ready.”

“Then let us start at once,” and each placed himself in his furrow as. the
hare spoke. The hare counted ‘‘One, two, three,” and started like a whirlwind
across the field. The hedgehog, however, only rana few steps, and then popped
down in the furrow and remained still.

When the hare, at full speed, reached the end of the field the hedgehog’s
wife raised her head and cried: ‘‘Here I am.”

The hare stood still in wonder, for the wife was so like her husband that
he thought itmustbehim. “ There is something wrong about this,” he thought
“However, we'll have another try.” So he turned and flew across the field at
such a pace that his ears floated behind him.