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“As wet as ever,” answered Alice sadly.

“In that case,” said the Dodo, rising to its feet, “the best thing to get dry would be a Caucus-race.” “And the best way to explain it is to do it.” It added.

First it marked out a race-course in a circle and then all the party stood along the course. And they began running when they liked and stopped when they liked so it was not easy to know when the race was over. However after half an hour of running the Dodo suddenly cried: “The race is over!” and they all crowded around it asking: “But who has won?”

The Dodo couldn’t answer this question at once so it sat for a long time thinking while the rest waited in silence. At last the Dodo said: “EVERYBODY has won, and all must have prizes.”

“But who will give us the prizes?” The voices asked.

“Well, SHE, of course,” said the Dodo, pointing at Alice with one finger; and everybody at once crowded around her crying: “Prizes! Prizes!”

Alice had no idea what to do, and in despair she put her hand into her pocket, and took out a box of comfits, (luckily the salt water had not got into it), and gave them to everybody as prizes.

“But she must have a prize herself,” said the Mouse.

“Of course,” the Dodo answered seriously. “What else have you got in your pocket?” he asked, turning to Alice.

“Only a thimble,” said Alice sadly.

“Give it to me,” it said.

Then they all crowded round her again, while the Dodo solemnly presented the thimble, saying “We beg you to accept this elegant thimble”; and, when it finished this short speech, they all cheered.

Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked so serious that she couldn’t laugh; and she bowed, and took the thimble, looking as solemn as she could.

After they had eaten the comfits they sat down again in a ring and asked the Mouse to tell them something more.

“You promised to tell me your story,” said Alice, “and why you hate – C and D,” she added in a whisper.

“My tale is long and sad!” said the Mouse sighing.

“It IS a long tail of course!” said Alice looking down at the Mouse’s tail with wonder. “But why do you call it sad?” And she continued thinking about it while the Mouse was speaking.

“You are not listening!” cried the Mouse to Alice angrily. “What are you thinking of?”

“I beg your pardon,” said Alice very politely: “you had come to the fifth point, I think?”

“I had NOT!” cried the Mouse very angrily.

“A knot!” said Alice looking around. “Oh, let me help you to undo it!”

The Mouse stood up and said walking away. “You insult me by talking such nonsense!”

“I didn’t want to do it!” cried poor Alice. “But you’re so easily offended!”

The Mouse didn’t answer.

“Please come back and finish your story!” Alice called after it; and all the others repeated, “Yes, please do!” but the Mouse only shook its head and soon it was out of sight.