MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 2G5 



and crossing the brook, made straight for Fleecyhaugh Water- 

 Meadows, over which there is always an exquisite perfume ; from 

 there he made a slight bend, as if inclining for the plantations at 

 Winstead, bat changing his mind, he faced the rising ground, and 

 crossing over nearly the highest point of Shillington Hill, made 

 direct for the little village of Berrington Roothings below. Here 

 the hounds came to a check, but Mr. Bragg, who had ridden gal- 

 lantly on his favourite bay, as fine an animal as ever went, though 

 somewhat past work of mouth, was well up with his hounds, and 

 with a " gentle rantipole ! " and a single wave of his arm, pro- 

 ceeded to make one of those scientific rests for which this eminent 

 huntsman is so justly celebrated. Hitting off the scent like a 

 coachman, they went away again at score, and passing by Moor- 

 linch Farm-buildings, and threading the strip of plantation by 

 Bexley Burn, he crossed Silverbury Green, leaving Longford Hutch 

 to the right, and passing straight on by the gibbet at Harpen. 

 Here, then, the gallant pack, breaking from scent to view, ran into 

 their box in the open close upon Mountnessing Wood, evidently 

 his point from the first, and into which a few more strides would 

 have carried him. It was as fine a run as ever was seen, and the 

 grunting of the hounds was the admiration of all who heard it. 

 The distance could not have been less than ten miles as a cow 

 goes. The justly popular owner of this most celebrated pack., 

 though riding good fourteen stones, led the Walters on his famous 

 chestnut horse Tappey Lappey. After this truly brilliant affair, 

 Mr. Puffington, like a thorough sportsman, and one who never 

 thrashes his hounds unnecessarily — unlike some masters who 

 never know when to leave off — returned to Hanby House, where 

 a distinguished party of noblemen and gentlemen partook of his 

 splendid hospitality. 



And the considerate Bloomer added of her own accord, " We 

 hope we shall have to record many such runs in the imperishable 

 columns of our paper." 



