Part 1 of 2
FIRST it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle, (‘the exact shape doesn’t matter,’ it said,) and then all the party were placed along the course, here and there.
There was no ‘One, two, three, and away,’ but they began running when they liked, and left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know when the race was over.
However, when they had been running half an hour or so, and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called out ‘The race is over!’ and they all crowded round it, panting, and asking, ‘But who has won?’
This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of thought, and it sat for a long time with one finger pressed upon its forehead (the position in which you usually see Shakespeare, in the pictures of him), while the rest waited in silence.
At last the Dodo said, 'Everybody has won, and all must have prizes.'
Précis
Alice and an assortment of animals have got wet, and are trying to dry out. The Dodo gets them to run a Caucus Race, a chaotic affair with no start, middle or end. Nonetheless, they want to know who the winner is, and the Dodo announces that everybody has won, and deserves a prize. (54 / 60 words)
Part Two
‘BUT who is to give the prizes?' quite a chorus of voices asked.
‘Why, she, of course,' said the Dodo, pointing to Alice with one finger; and the whole party at once crowded round her, calling out in a confused way, ‘Prizes! Prizes!’
Alice had no idea what to do, and in despair she put her hand in her pocket, and pulled out a box of comfits, (luckily the salt water had not got into it), and handed them round as prizes. There was exactly one a-piece all round.
‘But she must have a prize herself, you know,’ said the Mouse.
‘Of course,’ the Dodo replied very gravely.
‘What else have you got in your pocket?’ he went on, turning to Alice.
‘Only a thimble,’ said Alice sadly.
‘Hand it over here,’ said the Dodo.
Then they all crowded round her once more, while the Dodo solemnly presented the thimble, saying ‘We beg your acceptance of this elegant thimble’; and, when it had finished this short speech, they all cheered.
Précis
Alice and an assortment of wet animals have run a ‘Caucus Race’ to dry out, and the Dodo nominates Alice to provide prizes. She hands round a box of sweets, but there is no sweet for her, so the Dodo borrows Alice’s own thimble, and graciously presents it back to her. (51 / 60 words)