252 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



" You write the account," continued Jack, " and I'll manage 

 the rest." 



" You must help me," observed Sponge. 



" Certainly," replied Jack ; " we'll do it together, and go halves 

 in the plunder." 



" Humph," mused Sponge : " halves," said he to himself. " And 

 what will you give me for my half ? " asked he. 



" Give you ! " exclaimed Jack, brightening up. " Give you ! 

 Let me see," continued he, pretending to consider, — " Puffs rich 

 — Puff's a liberal fellow — Puff's a conceited beggar — mix it 

 strong," said Jack, " and I'll give you ten pounds." 



" Make it twelve," replied Sponge, after a pause. 



If Jack had said twelve, Sponge would have asked fourteen. 



" Couldn't," said Jack, with a shake of the head ; " it really 

 isn't with (worth) the money." 



The two then rode on in silence for some little distance. 



" I'll tell you what I'll do," said Jack, spurring his horse, and 

 trotting up the space that the other had now shot ahead. " I'll 

 split the difference with you ! " 



"Well, give me the sov.," said Sponge, holding out his hand for 

 earnest. 



" Why, I havn't a sov. upon me," replied Jack ; " but, honour 

 bright, I'll do what I say." 



" Give me eleven golden sovereigns for my chance," repeated 

 Sponge, slowly, in order that there might be no mistake. 



" Eleven golden sovereigns for your chance," repeated Jack. 



" Done ! " replied Sponge. 



" Done ! " repeated Jack. 



" Let's jog on and do it once while the thing's fresh in our 

 minds," said Jack, working his horse into a trot. 



Sponge did the same ; and the grass-siding of Orlantire Park- 

 wall favouring their design, they increased the trot to a canter. 

 They soon passed the park's bounds, and entering upon one of 

 those rarities — an unenclosed common, angled its limits so as to 

 escape the side-bar, and turning up Farningham Green lane, came 

 out upon the Kingsworth and Swillingford turnpike within sight 

 of Hanby House. 



" We'd better pull up and walk the horses gently in, p'raps," 

 observed Sponge, reining his in. 



" Ah ! I was only wantin' to get home before the rest," observed 

 Jack, pulling up too. 



They then proceeded more leisurely together. 

 " We'd better get into one of our bed-rooms to do it," observed 

 Jack, as they passed the lodge. 



" Just so," replied Sponge ; adding, " I dare say we shall want 

 all the quiet we can get." 



