Gustave started for the grocery store, but he had not gone very far on the way when he met his friend Max, who had a new velocipede, painted red. Max called to Gustave:
"You may ride my velocipede as much as you like," he said. "We will take turns."
Gustave stopped. He had no velocipede of his own. He could imagine himself riding on Max's velocipede, the wheels spinning around so fast as he played that he was a fire engine chief, or an automobile racer, or a chariot driver in a circus. But it was only a second that Gustave stopped. His new shoes would not let him stay any longer. On they raced toward the grocery store, carrying Gustave almost as fast as Max's velocipede could go. He called back to Max:
"I can't stop, now. I must fetch my mother a pat of butter by the time that the fire is ready for the cake."
That was all Gustave said. He did not tell him about the wonder shoes for that was a secret.
When he came back that way with the butter, Max was still out at play.
"I will race with you as far as my gate," Gustave said to Max.
"But I shall beat you because I am riding my velocipede and can race on wheels while you will have to race on foot," said Max.
But Gustave was off like an arrow and although Max worked the pedals of his new velocipede as fast as he could, he was not able to win the race. Gustave reached his gate before Max on his velocipede did.
"How did you go so fast?" asked Max.