What is the meaning of "last" in the following sentence?
Whiptail was first. He set sail so fast! But his tail whipped the sail and then he was last. Little Dale saw it all. So he got out of his boat to carry Whiptail across the moat. Dean had a boat that looked like a bean. It would not float. It began to lean. Out fell Dean! And there was Dale, to take him across to be with Whiptail.
? (Source: The Crossing by Foster & Erickson Illustrations by Kerri Gifford)
Does "he was last" mean "he was the lowest rank" ? Or does "he was last" mean "he was spoiled the race' ?
Does "last" in the sentence mean "lowest rank" or "spoiled" ?