102 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



I should say." added Jawleyford, " it is quite out of the question — 

 madness to think of it ; much better in the house, such weather." 



"I don't know that," replied Sponge, "the rain's come down, 

 and though the country will ride heavy, I don't see why we 

 shouldn't have sport after it." 



" But the glass is falling, and the wind's gone round the wrong 

 way ; the moon changed this morning — everything, in short, in- 

 dicates continued wet," replied Jawleyford. " The rivers are all 

 swollen, and the low grounds under water ; besides, my dear fellow, 

 consider the distance — consider the distance ; sixteen miles, if it's 

 a yard." 



" What, Duntleton Tower ! " exclaimed Sponge, recollecting 

 that Jawleyford had said it was only ten the night before. 



" Sixteen miles, and bad road," replied Jawleyford. 



" The deuce it is ! " muttered Sponge ; adding, " Well, I'll go 

 and see my groom, at all events." So saying, he rang the bell as 

 if the house was his own, and desired Spigot to show him the way 

 to his servant. 



Leather, of course, was in the servants'-hall, refreshing himself 

 with cold meat and ale, after his ride up from Lucksford. 



Finding that he had ridden the hack up, he desired Leather to 

 leave him there. "Tell the groom I must have him put up," 

 said Sponge ; " and you ride the chesnut on in the morning. How 

 far is it to Duntleton Tower ? " asked he. 



" Twelve or thirteen miles, they say, from here," replied Leather ; 

 " nine or ten from Lucksford." 



" Well, that'll do," said Sponge ; " you tell the groom here to 

 have the hack saddled for me at nine o'clock, and you ride Multum 

 in Parvo quietly on, either to the meet, or till I overtake you." 



" But how am I to get back to Lucksford ? " asked Leather, 

 cocking up a foot to show how thinly he was shod. 



" Oh, just as you can," replied Sponge ; " get the groom here to 

 sec you down with his master's hacks. I daresay they haven't 

 been out to-day, and it'll do them good." 



So saying, Mr. Sponge left his valuable servant to do the best 

 he could for himself. 



Having returned to the music-room, with the aid of an old 

 county map Mr. Sponge proceeded to trace his way to Duntleton 

 Tower ; aided, or rather retarded, by Mr. Jawleyford, who kept 

 pointing out all sorts of difficulties, till, if Mr. Sponge had fol- 

 lowed his advice, he would have made eighteen or twenty miles of 

 the distance. Sponge, however, being used to scramble about 

 strange countries, saw the place was to be accomplished in ten or 

 eleven. Jawleyford was sure he would lose himself, and Sponge 

 was equally confident that he wouldn't. 



At length the glad sound of the gong put an end to all further 



