,,*APT] ,,III

     ,A ,CAUCUS-,RACE &A ,L;G ,TALE

  ,!Y 7 9DE$ A QUE]-LOOK+ "PY T ASSEM#D
ON ! BANK--! BIRDS ) DRA7L$ F1!RS1 !
ANIMALS ) _! FUR CL++ CLOSE 6!M1 & ALL
DRIPP+ WET1 CROSS1 & UNCOM=TA#4
  ,! F/ "Q ( C\RSE WAS1 H[ 6GET DRY AG3
!Y _H A 3SULT,N AB ?1 & AF A FEW M9UTES
X SEEM$ Q NATURAL 6,ALICE 6F9D H]F TALK+
FAMILI>LY ) !M1 Z IF %E _H "KN !M ALL H]
LIFE4 ,9DE$1 %E _H Q A L;G >GU;T )!
,LORY1 :O AT LA/ TURN$ SULKY1 & WD ONLY
SAY1 ,8,I AM OLD] ?AN Y1 & M/ "K BETT]'2
& ? ,ALICE WD N ALL[ )\T "K+ H[ OLD X
WAS1 &1 Z ! ,LORY POSITIVELY REFUS$
6TELL XS AGE1 "! 0 NO M 6BE SD4
  ,AT LA/ ! ,M\SE1 :O SEEM$ 6BE A P]SON
( AU?OR;Y AM;G !M1 CALL$ \1 ,8,SIT D[N1
ALL ( Y1 & LI/5 6ME6 ,,I'LL SOON MAKE Y
DRY 5\<6' ,!Y ALL SAT D[N AT ONCE1 9 A
L>GE R+1 )! ,M\SE 9 ! MI4LE4 ,ALICE KEPT
H] EYES ANXI\SLY FIX$ ON X1 = %E FELT
SURE %E WD CAT* A BAD COLD IF %E      #B
DID N GET DRY V SOON4
  ,8,AHEM6' SD ! ,M\SE ) AN IMPORTANT
AIR1 ,8>E Y ALL R1DY8 ,? IS ! DRIE/ ?+
,I "K4 ,SIL;E ALL R.D1 IF Y PL1SE6
8,WILLIAM ! ,3QU]OR1 ^: CAUSE 0 FAV\R$
0! POPE1 0 SOON SUBMITT$ 60! ,5GLI%1 :O
WANT$ L1D]S1 & _H BE5 ( LATE M* A3U/OM$
6USURP,N & 3QUE/4 ,$W9 & ,MORC>1 ! E>LS
( ,M]CIA & ,NOR?UMBRIA--0'
  ,8,U<6' SD ! ,LORY1 )A %IV]4

,8,I BEG YR P>DON6' SD ! ,M\SE1 FR[N+1 B
  V
POLITELY3 ,8,DID Y SP1K8'

  ,8,N ,I6' SD ! ,LORY HA/ILY4
  ,8,I ?"\ Y DID1' SD ! ,M\SE4 ,8--,I
PROCE$4 8,$W9 & ,MORC>1 ! E>LS ( ,M]CIA
& ,NOR?UMBRIA1 DCLD = HM3 & EV5 ,/IG&1 !
PATRIOTIC >*BI%OP ( ,CANT]BURY1 F.D X
ADVISA#--0'
  ,8,F.D ,,:AT8' SD ! ,DUCK4
  ,8,F.D ,,X1' ! ,M\SE REPLI$ R CROSSLY3
,8( C\RSE Y "K :AT 8X0 M1NS4'
  ,8,I "K :AT 8X0 M1NS WELL 5\<1 :5   #C
,I F9D A ?+1' SD ! ,DUCK3 ,8X'S G5],Y A
FROG OR A WORM4 ,! "Q IS1 :AT DID !
>*BI%OP F9D8'
  ,! ,M\SE DID N NOTICE ? "Q1 B HURRI$LY
W5T ON1 ,88--F.D X ADVISA# 6G ) ,$G>
,A!L+ 6MEET ,WILLIAM & (F] HM ! CR[N4
,WILLIAM'S 3DUCT AT F/ 0 MOD]ATE4 ,B !
9SOL;E ( 8 ,NORMANS--0 ,H[ >E Y GETT+ ON
N[1 MY DE>8' X 3T9U$1 TURN+ 6,ALICE Z X
SPOKE4
  ,8,Z WET Z "E1' SD ,ALICE 9 A
MELAN*OLY T"O3 ,8X DOESN'T SEEM 6DRY ME
AT ALL4'
  ,8,IN T CASE1' SD ! ,DODO SOLEMNLY1
RIS+ 6XS FEET1 ,8,I MOVE T ! MEET+
ADJ\RN1 =! IMM ADOP;N ( M 5]GETIC
REM$IES--'
  ,8,SP1K ,5GLI%6' SD ! ,EAGLET4 ,8,I
DON'T "K ! M1N+ ( HALF ^? L;G ^WS1 &1
:AT'S M1 ,I DON'T 2LIEVE Y D EI6' ,&!
,EAGLET B5T D[N XS H1D 6HIDE A SMILE3 "S
(! O!R BIRDS TITT]$ AUDIBLY4
  ,8,:AT ,I 0 GO+ 6SAY1' SD ! ,DODO 9 AN
(F5D$ T"O1 ,8WAS1 T ! BE/ ?+ 6GET U DRY
WD 2 A ,CAUCUS-RACE4'                 #D
  ,8,:AT ,,IS A ,CAUCUS-RACE8' SD
,ALICE2 N T %E WANT$ M* 6"K1 B ! ,DODO
_H PAUS$ Z IF X ?"\ T ,,"SBODY "\ 6SP1K1
& NO "O ELSE SEEM$ 9CL9$ 6SAY ANY?+4
  ,8,:Y1' SD ! ,DODO1 ,8! BE/ WAY
6EXPLA9 X IS 6D X4' 7,&1 Z Y MI<T L 6TRY
! ?+ YRF1 "S W9T] "D1 ,I W TELL Y H[ !
,DODO MANAG$ X47
  ,F/ X M>K$ \ A RACE-C\RSE1 9 A SORT (
CIRCLE1 7,8! EXACT %APE DOESN'T MATT]1'
X SD17 & !N ALL ! "PY 7 PLAC$ AL;G !
C\RSE1 "H & "!4 ,"! 0 NO ,8,"O1 TWO1
?REE1 & AWAY1' B !Y 2GAN RUNN+ :5 !Y
LIK$1 & LEFT (F :5 !Y LIK$1 S T X 0 N
EASY 6"K :5 ! RACE 0 OV]4 ,H["E1 :5 !Y
_H BE5 RUNN+ HALF AN H\R OR S1 & 7 Q DRY
AG1 ! ,DODO SU45LY CALL$ \ ,8,! RACE IS
OV]6' & !Y ALL CR[D$ R.D X1 PANT+1 &
ASK+1 ,8,B :O HAS WON8'
  ,? "Q ! ,DODO CD N ANSW] )\T A GRT D1L
( ?"\1 & X SAT =A L;G "T ) "O F+] PRESS$
^U XS =EH1D 7! POSI;N 9 : Y USU,Y SEE
,%AKESPE>E1 9 ! PICTURES ( HM71 :ILE !
RE/ WAIT$ 9 SIL;E4 ,AT LA/ ! ,DODO SD1
,8,,"EYBODY HAS WON1 & ALL M/ H       #E
PRIZES4'
  ,8,B :O IS 6GIVE ! PRIZES8' Q A *ORUS
( VOICES ASK$4
  ,8,:Y1 ,,%E1 ( C\RSE1' SD ! ,DODO1
PO9T+ 6,ALICE ) "O F+]2 &! :OLE "PY AT
ONCE CR[D$ R.D H]1 CALL+ \ 9 A 3FUS$
WAY1 ,8,PRIZES6 ,PRIZES6'
  ,ALICE _H NO IDEA :AT 6D1 & 9 DESPAIR
%E PUT H] H& 9 H] POCKET1 & PULL$ \ A
BOX ( -FITS1 7LUCKILY ! SALT WAT] _H N
GOT 96X71 & H&$ !M R.D Z PRIZES4 ,"! 0
EXACTLY "O A-PIECE ALL R.D4
  ,8,B %E M/ H A PRIZE H]F1 Y "K1' SD !
,M\SE4
  ,8,( C\RSE1' ! ,DODO REPLI$ V GRAVELY4
,8,:AT ELSE H Y GOT 9 YR POCKET8' HE W5T
ON1 TURN+ 6,ALICE4
  ,8,ONLY A ?IM#1' SD ,ALICE SADLY4
  ,8,H& X OV] "H1' SD ! ,DODO4
  ,!N !Y ALL CR[D$ R.D H] ONCE M1 :ILE !
,DODO SOLEMNLY PRES5T$ ! ?IM#1 SAY+
,8,WE BEG YR A3EPT.E ( ? ELEGANT ?IM#'2
&1 :5 X _H F9I%$ ? %ORT SPEE*1 !Y ALL
*E]$4
  ,ALICE ?"\ ! :OLE ?+ V ABSURD1 B    #F
!Y ALL LOOK$ S GRAVE T %E DID N D>E
6LAU<2 &1 Z %E CD N ?9K ( ANY?+ 6SAY1 %E
SIMPLY B[$1 & TOOK ! ?IM#1 LOOK+ Z
SOLEMN Z %E CD4
  ,! NEXT ?+ 0 6EAT ! -FITS3 ? CAUS$ "S
NOISE & 3FU.N1 Z ! L>GE BIRDS -PLA9$ T
!Y CD N TA/E _!S1 &! SMALL "OS *OK$ & _H
6BE PATT$ ON ! BACK4 ,H["E1 X 0 OV] AT
LA/1 & !Y SAT D[N AG 9 A R+1 & BE7$ !
,M\SE 6TELL !M "S?+ M4
  ,8,Y PROMIS$ 6TELL ME YR HI/ORY1 Y
"K1' SD ,ALICE1 ,8& :Y X IS Y HATE--;,C
& ;,D1' %E A4$ 9 A :ISP]1 HALF AFRAID T
X WD 2 (F5D$ AG4
  ,8,M9E IS A L;G &A SAD TALE6' SD !
,M\SE1 TURN+ 6,ALICE1 & SI<+4
  ,8,X ,,IS A L;G TAIL1 C]TA9LY1' SD
,ALICE1 LOOK+ D[N ) WOND] AT ! ,M\SE'S
TAIL2 ,8B :Y D Y CALL X SAD8' ,& %E KEPT
ON PUZZL+ AB X :ILE ! ,M\SE 0 SP1K+1 S T
H] IDEA (! TALE 0 "S?+ L ?3--

                      ,8,FURY SD 6A
                    M\SE1 ,T HE
                MET 9 !               #G
            H\SE1
      8,LET U
          BO? G TO
              LAW3 ,I W
                  PROSECUTE
                      ,,Y4 --,COME1
                            ,I'LL TAKE
                                NO
                              D5IAL2 ,WE
                        M/ H A
                TRIAL3 ,=
          RE,Y ?
    MORN+ ,I'VE
  NO?+
6D40
    ,SD !
        M\SE 6!
            CUR1 8,S*
                A TRIAL1
                    DE> ,SIR1
                                ,)
                        NO JURY
                  OR JUDGE1
              WD 2
          WA/+                        #H
        \R
          BR1?40
            8,I'LL 2
                JUDGE1 ,I'LL
                    2 JURY10
                                ,SD
                      CUNN+
                          OLD ,FURY3
                        8,I'LL
                          TRY !
                                :OLE
                                  CAUSE1
                                    &
                              3DEMN
                            Y
                          TO
                            D1?40'

  ,8,Y >E N ATT5D+6' SD ! ,M\SE 6,ALICE
SEV]ELY4

,8,:AT >E Y ?9K+ (8'

  ,8,I BEG YR P>DON1' SD ,ALICE V
HUMBLY3 ,8Y _H GOT 6! FIF? B5D1 ,I    #I
?9K8'
  ,8,I _H ,,N6' CRI$ ! ,M\SE1 %>PLY & V
ANGRILY4
  ,8,A KNOT6' SD ,ALICE1 ALW R1DY 6MAKE
H]F USE;L1 & LOOK+ ANXI\SLY AB H]4
,8,OH1 D LET ME HELP 6UNDO X6'
  ,8,I % D NO?+ (! SORT1' SD ! ,M\SE1
GETT+ UP & WALK+ AWAY4 ,8,Y 9SULT ME
0TALK+ S* NONS5SE6'
  ,8,I DIDN'T M1N X6' PL1D$ POOR ,ALICE4
,8,B Y'RE S EASILY (F5D$1 Y "K6'
  ,! ,M\SE ONLY GR[L$ 9 REPLY4
  ,8,PL1SE -E BACK & F9I% YR /ORY6'
,ALICE CALL$ AF X2 &! O!RS ALL JO9$ 9
*ORUS1 ,8,YES1 PL1SE D6' B ! ,M\SE ONLY
%OOK XS H1D IMPATI5TLY1 & WALK$ A LL
QK]4
  ,8,:AT A P;Y X WDN'T /AY6' SI<$ !
,LORY1 Z SOON Z X 0 Q \ ( SI<T2 & AN OLD
,CRAB TOOK ! OPPORTUN;Y ( SAY+ 6H]
DAU<T] ,8,AH1 MY DE>6 ,LET ? 2 A LESSON
6Y N"E 6LOSE ,,YR TEMP]6' ,8,HOLD YR
T;GUE1 ,MA6' SD ! "Y ,CRAB1 A LL
SNAPPI%LY4 ,8,Y'RE 5 6TRY ! PATI;E ( AN
OY/]6'                               #AJ
  ,8,I WI% ,I _H \R ,D9AH "H1 ,I "K ,I
D6' SD ,ALICE AL\D1 A4RESS+ NOBODY 9
"PICUL>4 ,8,%E'D SOON FET* X BACK6'
  ,8,& :O IS ,D9AH1 IF ,I MI<T V5TURE
6ASK ! "Q8' SD ! ,LORY4
  ,ALICE REPLI$ EAG]LY1 = %E 0 ALW R1DY
6TALK AB H] PET3 ,8,D9AH'S \R CAT4 ,&
%E'S S* A CAPITAL "O = CAT*+ MICE Y C'T
?9K6 ,& OH1 ,I WI% Y CD SEE H] AF !
BIRDS6 ,:Y1 %E'LL EAT A LL BIRD Z SOON Z
LOOK AT X6'
  ,? SPEE* CAUS$ A REM>KA# S5S,N AM;G !
"PY4 ,"S (! BIRDS HURRI$ (F AT ONCE3 "O
! OLD ,MAGPIE 2GAN WRAPP+ XF UP V
C>E;LLY1 REM>K+1 ,8,I RE,Y M/ 2 GETT+
HOME2 ! NI<T-AIR DOESN'T SUIT MY ?ROAT6'
&A ,CAN>Y CALL$ \ 9 A TREMBL+ VOICE 6XS
*N1 ,8,-E AWAY1 MY DE>S6 ,X'S HI< "T Y 7
ALL 9 B$6' ,ON V>I\S PRETEXTS !Y ALL
MOV$ (F1 & ,ALICE 0 SOON LEFT AL"O4
  ,8,I WI% ,I _HN'T M5;N$ ,D9AH6' %E SD
6H]F 9 A MELAN*OLY T"O4 ,8,NOBODY SEEMS
6L H]1 D[N "H1 & ,I'M SURE %E'S ! BE/
CAT 9 ! _W6 ,OH1 MY DE> ,D9AH6 ,I WOND]
IF ,I % "E SEE Y ANY M6' ,& "H       #AA
POOR ,ALICE 2GAN 6CRY AG1 = %E FELT V
L"OLY & L[-_S$4 ,9 A LL :ILE1 H["E1 %E
AG HE>D A LL PATT]+ ( FOOT/EPS 9 ! 4T.E1
& %E LOOK$ UP EAG]LY1 HALF HOP+ T !
,M\SE _H *ANG$ 8 M9D1 & 0 -+ BACK 6F9I%
8 /ORY4