A goat, a monkey, and a rooster decided to work together to win a place.

The rooster found a wooden raft.

The goat chewed weeds and grasses and cleared a path for the raft to sail.

The monkey found a long branch which he used to steer and push them to the other side.

The Emperor was delighted to see their fine teamwork.

"The eighth year will be Goat's, the ninth year Monkey's and the tenth Rooster's," he said.

A dog arrived to claim eleventh place.

He was a strong swimmer, and could have arrived earlier, but he was too busy chasing sticks and splashing in the water.

"The eleventh year will belong to the playful dog," called the Emperor.

As the moon was rising in the evening sky, the Emperor heard a loud squealing and screeching.

It was a large pig who finally emerged from the river.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, Emperor, but iI found some delicious apples by the riverbank and then I found a pool of mud, and then I fell asleep-"

"Be that as it may," said the Emperor, "the twelfth and final year will be the year of the pig."

"The Great Race is over!" said the Emperor.

"Let us celebrate."

But just then, there came a terrible howling from the reeds.

It was the cat, looking wet and bedraggled and very, very cross.

He saw the rat sitting with the Emperor and shouted, "You were supposed to wake me, you rat! I will never forgive you!"

The cat was so angry that the rat fled for his life.

And through the first twelve years that passed, and the twelve years after that, and all the many years leading up to this day ... rat have always fled from cats!

013-[英文故事]Story of Chinese Zodiac - The Great Race