a long, long way behind the others. But he kept right on going.

"One step, two steps, three steps, so!"

and he didn't stop for anything. He crawled over sticks and around
big stones and sometimes, when he found a little pool of water,
he swam. He always felt better then, because he can swim faster
than he can walk.

After a long, long time, Spotty the Turtle came to a little pool
where the sunshine lay warm and inviting. There, in the middle of it,
on a mossy stone, sat Grandfather Frog fast asleep. He had thought
that he was so far ahead of Spotty that he could safely rest his
tired legs. Spotty wanted to climb right up beside him and take a
nap too, but he didn't. He just grinned and kept right on going.

"One step, two steps, three steps, so!"

while Grandfather Frog slept on.

By and by, after a long, long time Spotty came to another little
pool, and who should he see but Jerry Muskrat busily opening and
eating some freshwater clams which he had found there. He was so
busy enjoying himself that he didn't see Spotty, and Spotty didn't
say a word, but kept right on going, although the sight of Jerry's
feast had made him dreadfully hungry.

By and by, after a long, long time, he came to a third little pool
with a high, smooth bank, and who should he see there but Little
Joe Otter, who had made a slippery slide down the smooth bank and