One very hot day, a carabao went into the river to bathe. He met a shell and they began talking.
"You are very slow," said the carabao to the shell.
"Oh, no," replied the shell. "I can beat you in a race."
"Then let us try and see," said the carabao.
They went out on the bank and started to run. After going a long distance, the carabao stopped and called, "Shell!"
Another shell lying by the river answered, "Here I am!"
The carabao, thinking it was the same shell he was racing, ran on. Soon he stopped again and called, "Shell!"
Yet another shell answered, "Here I am!"
The carabao was surprised the shell could keep up. He ran on and on. Every time he stopped to call, a different shell answered him. But he was determined not to be beaten, so he ran until he dropped dead.