Alice In Wonderland Ch III - The Caucus Race Mystery Cache

This cache is one of many chapters in the story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Each cache will reveal a password which will be required to obtain the coordinates for the final cache in the series. Always carry the typical geocaching tools, i.e., hiking stick, flashlight, notebook, a #2 pencil and keep an open mind. Always print and carry a hard copy of this page with you. There may be necessary clues hidden in the text. Good luck!

They were indeed a queer-looking party that assembled on the bank---the birds with draggled feathers, the animals with their fur clinging close to them, and all dripping wet, cross, and uncomfortable. The first question of course was how to get dry again. They had a consultation about this, and after a few minutes it seemed quite natural to Alice to find herself talking familiarly with them, as if she had known them all her life.

At last the Mouse, who seemed to be a person of authority among them, called out, `Sit down, all of you, and listen to me! I'll soon make you dry enough!' They all sat down at once in a large ring, with the Mouse in the middle. Alice kept her eyes anxiously fixed on it; for she felt sure she would catch a bad cold if she did not get dry very soon.

`Ahem!' said the Mouse with an important air, `are you all ready? This is the driest thing I know. Silence all round, if you please! "William the Conqueror, whose cause was favored by the pope, was soon submitted to by the English, who wanted leaders, and had been of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest. Edwin and Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria---"'
`Ugh!' said the Lory, with a shiver.
`I beg your pardon!' said the Mouse, frowning, but very politely. `Did you speak?'
`Not I!' said the Lory hastily.
`I thought you did,' said the Mouse. ` I proceed ---‘

The Mouse droned on and on. Soon Alice interrupted. `Although this is the driest story I’ve ever heard,’ said Alice in a melancholy tone, ‘I’m as wet as ever. It doesn'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 don't know the meaning of half those long words, and, what's more, I don't believe you do either!' 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.
`Why,' said the Dodo, `the best way to explain it is to do it.' First it marked out a race-course in a sort of circle and then all the party were placed along the course, here and there. There was no beginning or end nor was there a `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 started or 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!'
`But who has won?' asked the party.

This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of thought so it sat on a nearby bench for a long time with one finger pressed upon its forehead while the rest waited in silence. At last the Dodo said, `everybody has won, and all must have prizes.'
`But who is to give the prizes?' a chorus of voices asked.
`Why she, of course,' said the Dodo, pointing to Alice.
Alice had no idea what to do and in despair put her hand in her pocket, pulled out a small sack of numbers and handed them round as prizes. ‘Here,’ said Alice, ‘I have a number for each of you.’
‘But I see nothing!’, said the Lory.
‘Nor do I’, said the Eaglet.
The Mouse, not liking the attention drawn away from himself, stepped forward and said, ‘These numbers can only be seen at night, much like the eyes of an opossum.’
“You must, however, remain in order!’, warned Alice, ‘for if you do not you’ll surely lose your way.’

Suddenly the Mouse leaped upon the bench and in a very authoritative voice proclaimed, ‘This Caucus must disperse immediately or pay the consequences!’ With that the party scattered into the night.
‘But wait!’ called Alice, ‘Come back!’ But no one returned. Once again poor Alice found herself alone and again began to cry, for she felt very lonely and low-spirited. In a little while, however, she heard a pattering of little footsteps in the distance. She looked up eagerly, half hoping that the Mouse had changed his mind and was coming back to finish his story. It was the White Rabbit, trotting slowly back again, looking anxiously about as it went, as if it had lost something; and she heard it muttering to itself `The Duchess! The Duchess! Oh my dear paws! Oh my fur and whiskers! She'll get me executed, as sure as ferrets are ferrets! Where can I have dropped them, I wonder?

• CAUTION! A LARGE hole was spotted just outside the caching area that should not come into play. But just in case; Keep your eyes open! and your kids and dogs on a short leash.

Disclaimer: Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Illustrations by John Tenniel. Original story by Lewis Carroll. Text and pictures shamelessly borrowed from www.sabian.org and do not have any assoiciation with the Brothers Grimm or www.geocaching.com or groundspeak inc. nor do the above mentioned entities intend to profit from this Adventure in Wonderland. Links are provided for information purposes only and included so that the original story and the edited version can be compared.