ME. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 15 



But to our story. The horse now stood staring on view : fire 

 in his eye, and vigour in his every limb. Leather at his head, the 

 lad at his side, Sponge and Buckram a little on the left. 



" W—h — o — a — a — y, my man, w — h — o—a — a — y," continued 

 Mr. Buckram, as a liberal show of the white of the eye was fol- 

 lowed by a little wince and hoist of the hind quarters on the 

 nearer approach of the lad. 



"Look sharp, boy,'" said he, in a very different tone to the 

 soothing one in which he had just been addressing the horse. 

 The lad lifted up his leg for a hoist, Leather gave him one as 

 quick as thought, and led on the horse as the lad gathered up his 

 reins. They then made for a large field at the back of the house, 

 with leaping-bars, hurdles, " on and offs," " ins and outs," all sorts 

 of fancy leaps scattered about. Having got him fairly in, and the 

 lad having got himself fairly settled in the saddle he gave the 

 horse a touch with the spur as Leather let go his head, and after a 

 desperate plunge or two started off at a gallop. 



"He's fresh,' 1 '' observed Mr. Buckram confidentially to Mr. 

 Sponge, '"he's fresh — wants work, in short — short of work — 

 wouldn't put every one on him — wouldn't put one o' your timid 

 cocknified chaps on him, for if ever he were to get the hupper 

 'and, vy I doesn't know as ow that we might get the hupper 'and 

 o' him, agen, but the playful rogue knows ven he's got a workman 

 on his back — see how he gives to the lad though he's only fifteen, 

 and not strong of his hage nouther," continued Mr. Buckram, 

 "and I guess if he had sich a consternation of talent as you on 

 his back, he'd wery soon be as quiet as a lamb — not that he's 

 wicious — far from it, only play — full of play, I may say, though 

 to be sure, if a man gets spilt it don't argufy much whether it's 

 done from play or from wice." 



During this time the horse was going through his evolutions, 

 hopping over this thing, popping over that, making as little of 

 every thing as practice makes them do. 



Having gone through the usual routine, the lad now walked 

 the glowing coated snorting horse back to where the trio stood. 

 Mr. Sponge again looked him over, and still seeing no exception 

 to take to him, bid the lad get off, and lengthen the stirrups for 

 him to take a ride. That was the difficulty. The first two 

 minutes always did it. Mr. Sponge, however, nothing daunted, 

 borrowed Sam's spurs, and making Leather hold the horse by the 

 head till he got well into the saddle, and then lead him on a bit ; 

 he gave the animal such a dig in both sides as fairly threw him of! 

 his guard, and made him start away at a gallop, instead of stand- 

 ing and delivering, as was his wont. 



Away Mr. Sponge shot, pulling him about, trying all his paces 

 and putting him at all sorts of leaps. 



