"
"A lazy race!" cried half a score of voices.
"Yes, a lazy race. The person or animal who comes in last, after making
five circuits, wins."
"Are there going to be animals in this?" demanded Lem.
"Of course there are. This is free-for-all. Here is my entry," and Ned,
turning over the box he had been standing on, disclosed a big mud turtle,
that started to crawl away as soon as it got into the light.
"A mud turtle race!" cried Lem.
"Certainly! Why not?" demanded Ned, "This turtle has been trained
against Jim Morton, champion lazy racer of the Darewell High School!" he
went on in a loud voice, to make himself heard above the shouts of
laughter. "Now, all ready. Come on, Jim, I believe you can beat the
turtle if you half try!"
Such a yell as there was at this! The boys and girls realized the joke
that had been played, and even Jim did not hesitate to join in the
merriment, for he appreciated the trick which had been worked on him.
"One! Two! Three! Go!" cried Ned. "There goes the turtle!" and he pointed
to where the animal was crawling along at a rapid rate. "Hurry up, Jim,
or he'll beat you!"
"I guess not," Jim replied.
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