"The Horse is going faster!" cried the Bold Tin Soldier. "I'm sure the
Horse will win the race!" The Tin Captain rather favored the Horse,
since all soldiers like horses.

"It is too soon, yet, to tell who will win," remarked the Calico
Clown. "They have to go to the elevators and come back to the starting
mark--the crack in the floor--before the race is finished. Oh, but
this is sport!"

The White Rocking Horse and the Elephant, who wore roller skates, were
close together, making their way as fast as they could toward the
elevators. This was the half-way mark of the race. The two animals
must turn around and come back to the toy counter before it would be
known which was the faster. Just now they seemed to be even.

On and on they raced, faster and faster. If you had been there you
would have enjoyed it, I am sure. But of course that was not allowed.
If you had so much as peeped, even with one eye, the toys would
instantly have become as motionless as the pictures in your spelling
book.

Back and forth rocked the White Horse. Rumble and roll went the
Elephant on his skates. They were close to the elevators in about
three minutes after they had started from the crack mark.

"Now they are going to turn around," whispered the Celluloid Doll, as
she leaned over the edge of the counter.

"Oh, look!" suddenly called the Monkey on a Stick. "Now the White
Rocking Horse will win the race!"