`` Edwin and Morcar , the earls of Mercia and Northumbria , declared for him : and even Stigand , the patriotic archbishop of Canterbury , found it advisable -- '' ' ` Found WHAT ? ' said the Duck . ` Found IT , ' the Mouse replied rather crossly : ` of course you know what `` it '' means . ' ' I know what `` it '' means well enough , when I find a thing , ' said the Duck : ` it 's generally a frog or a worm . The question is , what did the archbishop find ? ' The Mouse did not notice this question , but hurriedly went on , ' '' -- found it advisable to go with Edgar Atheling to meet William and offer him the crown . William 's conduct at first was moderate . But the insolence of his Normans -- '' How are you getting on now , my dear ? ' it continued , turning to Alice as it spoke . ` As wet as ever , ' said Alice in a melancholy tone : ` it does n't seem to dry me at all . ' ` In that case , ' said the Dodo solemnly , rising to its feet , ' I move that the meeting adjourn , for the immediate adoption of more energetic remedies -- ' ` Speak English ! ' said the Eaglet . ' I do n't know the meaning of half those long words , and , what 's more , I do n't believe you do either ! ' And the Eaglet bent down its head to hide a smile : some of the other birds tittered audibly . ` What I was going to say , ' said the Dodo in an offended tone , ` was , that the best thing to get us dry would be a Caucus-race . ' ` What IS a Caucus-race ? ' said Alice ; not that she wanted much to know , but the Dodo 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 . ' -LRB- And , as you might like to try the thing yourself , some winter day , I will tell you how the Dodo managed it . -RRB- First it marked out a race-course , in a sort of circle , -LRB- ` the exact shape does n't matter , ' it said , -RRB- 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 XXXXX it was not easy to know when the race was over .
along as at down for in of on that to