David the Tortoise was a huge fan of stories. After all, when you moved as slowly as he did he had plenty of time to hear them. Unsurprisingly his favorite story was Aesop's fable about the Tortoise and the Hare. 

One day as he was plodding along a path he came across Larry the Hare. They exchanged pleasantries and David asked Larry if he had ever heard the tale. Larry had not and David related it to him as Larry munched on some green leaves.

When it was done, Larry burst out laughing. "That's the funniest joke I've ever heard!" he guffawed.

"It's not a joke, it's a true story!" David retorted.

"Oh, come on, Dave my friend. Nobody would believe a tortoise could best a hare. Look at us! You are the slowest animal in the forest and I'm the quickest, and if we raced you wouldn't stand a chance!" Larry patted David on the shell condescendingly.

Well that was it, as far as David was concerned. He would show this smart aleck what was what. So he challenged Larry to a race, just between the pair of them, from the edge of the forest and across Farmer Muldoon's wheat field to the fence by the road. Whoever got there first would be the winner and prove or put to lie the age-old story.

The next morning they met up at the old stump which was the starting line. A number of other animals had gathered to watch the event begin, expecting to see a victorious Larry return in a short while. The two shook paws and Larry bounded off. David started plodding in the same direction, determined to show the rabbit his method was the best.

Several hours later, David came across Larry sitting in the field, lazily watching the clouds. They were about twenty yards from the fence. "I thought I'd make it sporting," Larry said casually. 

This infuriated David. He began cursing and calling Larry all sorts of names for not taking the race seriously. This got Larry's dander up and he began responding in kind. They went on for some time, oblivious to Farmer Muldoon who was driving his thresher across the field, harvesting the wheat crop. The two contestants were caught up in the machine and neither one survived.

When neither of the contestants returned, the animals back at the stump asked Jerry the Crow to fly out and see how the race was progressing. Jerry spotted their remains and called the rest of the animals over to see what had become of their friends. Frank the Raccoon shook his head at the carnage. "Such a shame," he said. "Dave and a hare cut to bits."