Dangerously exhausted, overcome with dehydration and shame, the Hare finally collapses and admits defeat.
The Hare rushes back along the race track and is shocked, dismayed, and befuddled to find the Hedgehog there waiting for him once again (it's actually the Hedgehog's wife, but the Hare is too bigoted to be able to tell two hedgehogs apart).
Determined and fatigued, the Hare runs back down the track.
Hedgehog outlines the details of his scheme: Hedgehog will stand at one end of the racetrack, while his wife stands at the other end. The Hare will run down the track and, seeing the Hedgehog already there, will think he's lost the race. Then he'll run and back and see the Hedgehog's wife--since he can't tell the two apart, he'll think he lost the race again. It's a clever plan.