As he spoke there came a loud clattering sound down near the
elevators--the halfway mark of the race. All the toys strained their
necks to look, and they saw that one of the roller skates had come off
the Elephant. He had turned too quickly, and had lost a skate.

"Never mind! Go on! Go on!" cried the Elephant, who was quite a
sporting chap in his own way. "Go on with the race! I can beat you on
three skates, Mr. Horse!"

"Ho! Ho! We'll see about that!" whinnied the rocking chap, as he made
the turn and started back.

The two toys were going along as fast as they could, the rumble of the
rockers on the White Horse mingling with the roll of the skates on the
Elephant, when, all of a sudden, a brighter light shone in the toy
department, the tread of footsteps was heard, and the Calico Clown had
just time to shout:

"The watchman! To your places, every one!"

And instantly the toys were as motionless and quiet as mice. The
Elephant, even on three skates, had been going so fast that he rolled
behind a big pillar all covered with red and green tissue paper, with
which the toy section was decorated. And the White Rocking Horse
stayed just where he was when the Clown called out. Up among the toy
counters and shelves came a big man carrying a lantern. He was the
store watchman, and he went about in the different departments each
night to see that all was well.