THE 'CAT AND CUSTARD-POT' DAY 



boys ; no, not if they 'd give me a paper bag to put 

 them in.' 



Mr. Jorrocks, having established a comfortable 

 landing-place on a grassy mound, proceeded to 

 dismount from the nearly pumped-out Arterxerxes, 

 and pile himself on to the much fresher Xerxes, 

 who had been ridden more as a second horse than 

 as a whipper-in's. 



' Now go along ! ' cried our master, settling him- 

 self into his saddle, and giving Xerxes a hearty 

 salute on the neck with his whip. 'Now go 

 along ! ' repeated he, ' and lay yourself out 

 as if you were in the cut-me-downs,' adding, 

 ' there are twenty couple of 'ounds on the 

 scent ! ' 



' By 'eavens, it 's sublime ! ' exclaimed he, eye- 

 ing the hounds, streaming away over a hundred- 

 acre pasture below. ' By 'eavens, it 's sublime ! 

 'ow they go, screechin' and towlin' along, jest 

 like a pocket full o' marbles. 'Ow the old wood 

 re-echoes their melody, and the old castle seem- 

 ingly takes pleasure to repeat the sound. A 



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