Oldal 49 [49]
, 44
N .
; 80
AND A LONG TALE. 33
had paused as if it thought that somebody ought
to speak, and no one else seemed inclined to
say anything.
“Why, said the Dodo, “the best way to
explain it is to do it.” (And as you might like
to try the thing yourself, some winter day, I
will tell you how the Dodo managed it.)
First 1t 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
E