344 ME. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



Just then in came the man himself, hat and whip in hand, 

 waving the brush proudly over his head. 



"Ah, that's (hiccup) right, old feller," exclaimed Sir Harry, 

 again advancing with extended hand to meet him ; adding, "you'd 

 (hiccup) all you wanted for your (hiccup) horse : mutton broth — 

 I mean barley-water, foot-bath, everything right. Let me in ■ 

 troduce my (hiccup) brother-in-law, Bob Spangles, my (hiccup) 

 friend Captain Ladofwax, Captain Quod, Captain (hiccup) Bouncey, 

 Captain (hiccup) Seedybuck, and my (hiccup) brother-in-law, Mr 

 Spangles, as lushy a cove as ever was seen ; ar'n't you, old boy ? " 

 added he, grasping the latter by the arm. 



All these gentlemen severally bobbed their heads as Sir Harry 

 called them over, and then resumed their respective occupations — 

 eating, drinking, and smoking. 



These were some of the debauched gentlemen Mr. Sponge had 

 seen before Nonsuch House in the morning. They were all 

 captains, or captains by courtesy. Ladofwax had been a painter 

 and glazier in the Borough, where he made the acquaintance of 

 Captain Quod, while that gentleman was an inmate of Captain 

 Hudson's strong house. Captain Bouncey was the too well-known 

 betting-office keeper ; and Seedybuck was such a constant 

 customer of Mr. Commissioner Fonblanqne's court, that that 

 worthy legal luminary, on discharging him for the fifth time, said 

 to him, with a very significant shake of the head, " You'd better 

 not come here again, sir." Seedybuck, being of the same opinion, 

 had since fastened himself on to Sir Harry Scattercash, who found 

 him in meat, drink, washing, and lodging. They were all attired 

 in red coats, of one sort. or another, though some of which were of 

 a very antediluvian, and others of a very dressing-gown cut. 

 Bouncey's had a hare on the button, and Seedybuck's coat sat on 

 him like a sack. Still a scarlet coat is a scarlet coat in the eyes of 

 some, and the coats were not a bit more unsportsmanlike than the 

 men. To Mr. Sponge's astonishment, instead of breaking out in 

 inquiries as to where they had run to, the time, the distance, who 

 was up, who was down, and so on, they began recommending the 

 victuals and drink ; and this, notwithstanding Mr. Sponge kept 

 flourishing the brush. 



"We've had a rare run," said he, addressing himself to Sir Harry. 



" Have you (hiccup) ? I'm glad of it (hiccup). Pray have 

 something to (hiccup) after it ; you must be (hiccup)." 



" Let me help you to some of this cold round of beef?" ex- 

 claimed Captain Bouncey, brandishing the great broad-bladed 

 carving-knife. 



"Have a slice of 'ot 'am," suggested Captain Quod. 



" The finest run I ever rode ! " observed Mr. Sponge, still 

 endeavouring to 2;ct a hearing;. 



