.Bfi2. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 193 



veniencc. it would spoil the best part of a five-pund note ; and 

 five-pund notes don't grow upon gooseberry-bushes — at least not 

 in my garden." 



"Kather scarce in all gardens just now, I think," observed 

 Jack ; " at least I never hear of anybody with one to spare." 



" Money's like snow," said his lordship, " a very meltable 

 article ; and talking of snow," he said, looking up at the heavy 

 clouds, " I wish we mayn't be going to have some — I don't like 

 the look of things overhead." 



" Heavy," replied Jack ; " heavy : however, it's due about 

 now." 



" Due or not due," sa'd his lordship, " it's a thing one never 

 wishes to come ; anybody may have my share of snow that likes — 

 frost too." 



The road, or rather track, now passed over Blobbington Moor, 

 and our friends had enough to do to keep their horses out of peat- 

 holes and bogs, without indulging in conversation. At length 

 they cleared the moor, and, pulling out a gap at the corner of the 

 inclosures, cut across a few fields, and got on to the Stumpington 

 turnpike. 



" The hounds arc here," said Jack, after studying the muddy 

 road for some time. 



"They'll net be there long," replied his lordship, "for 

 Grabtintoll Gate isn't far a-head, and we don't waste our 

 substance on pikes." 



His lordship was right. The imprints soon diverged up a 

 muddy lane on the right, and our sportsmen now got into a road 

 so deep and bottomless as to put the idea of stones quite out of 

 the question. 



" Hang the road ! " exclaimed his lordship, as his hack nearly 

 came on his nose, "hang the road!" repeated he, adding, " if 

 Puff wasn't such an ass, I really think I'd give him up the cross- 

 road country." 



" It's bad to get at from us," observed Jack, who didn't like 

 such trashing distances. 



" Ah ! but it's a rare good country when you get to it," replied 

 his lordship, shortening his rein and spurring his steed. 



The lane being at length cleared, the road became more practic- 

 able, passing over large pastures where a horseman could choose 

 his own ground, instead of being bound by the narrow limits of 

 the law. But though the road improved, the day did not ; a 

 thick fog coming drifting up from the south-cast in aid of the 

 general obscurity of the scene. 



" The day's gettin' wuss" observed Jack, snuffling and staring 

 about. 



" It'll blow over," replied his lordship, who was not easily 



o 



