44 MB. SPONGE'S SPOBTING TOUB. 



recognise Mr. Sponge, and independently of a few snorts as he was 

 led out, and an indignant stamp or two of his foot as it was let down, 

 after Mr. Sponge was mounted he took things very quietly. 



"Now," said Leather, in an under-tone, patting the horse's 

 arched neck, " I'll give you a hint ; they're a goin' to run a drag 

 to try what he's made on, so be on the look-out." 



" How do you know ? " asked Mr. Sponge, in surprise, drawing 

 his reins as he spoke. 



" I lenow" replied Mr. Leather, with a wink. 



Just then the horse began to plunge, and paw, and give symp- 

 toms of uneasiness, and not wishing to fret or exhibit his weak 

 points, Mr. Sponge gave him his head, and passing through the 

 side-gate was presently in the street. He didn't exactly understand 

 it, but having full confidence in his horsemanship, and believing 

 the one he was on required nothing but riding, he was not afraid 

 to take his chance. 



Not being the man to put his candle under a bushel, Mr. Sponge 

 took the principal streets on his way out of town. We are not 

 sure that he did not go rather out of his way to get them in, but 

 that is neither here nor there, seeing he was a stranger who didn't 

 know the way. What a sensation his appearance created as the 

 gallant brown stepped proudly and freely up Coronation Street, 

 throwing his smart, clean, well-put-on head up and down on the 

 unrestrained freedom of the snaffle. 



" Oh, d — n it, there he is ! " exclaimed Mr. Spareneck, jumping 

 up from the breakfast-table, and nearly sweeping the contents off 

 by catching the cloth with his spur. 



" Where ? " exclaimed half-a-dozen voices, amid a general rush 

 to the windows. 



"What a fright ! " exclaimed little Miss Martindale, whispering 

 into Miss Beauchamp's ear : " I'm sure anybody may have him for 

 me," though she felt in her heart that he was far from bad looking. 



" I wonder how long he's taken to put on that choker," 

 observed Mr. Spareneck, eyeing him intently, not without an 

 inward qualm that he had set himself a more difficult task than 

 he imagined, to " cut him down," especially when he looked at 

 the noble animal he bestrode, and the masterly way he sat him. 



" What a pair of profligate boots," observed Captain Whitfield, 

 as our friend now passed his lodgings. 



" It would be the duty of a right-thinking man to ride over a 

 fellow in such a pair," observed his friend, Mr. Cox, who was 

 breakfasting with him. 



" Ride over a fellow in such a pair ! " exclaimed Whitfield. 

 "No well-bred horse would face such things, I should think." 



" He seems to think a good deal of himself ! " observed Mr 

 Cox, as Sponge cast an admiring eye down his shining boot. 



