126 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



Hook ; Mr. Slade, of Three-Burrow Hill ; and several others. 

 Great was the astonishment of each as the other cast up. 



" Why, here's Joe Reeves ! " exclaimed Blossomnose. " Who'd 

 have thought of seeing you ? " 



''And who'd have thought of seeing you?" rejoined Reeves, 

 shaking hands with the jolly old nose. 



" Here's Tom Washball in time for once, I declare ! " exclaimed 

 Mr. Fyle, as Mr. Washball cantered up in apple-pie order. 



" Wonders will never cease ! " observed Fossick, looking Washy 

 over. 



So the field sat in a ring about the hounds, in the centre of 

 which, as usual, were Jack and Lord Scamperdale, looking with 

 their great tortoise-shell-rimmed spectacles, and short grey whiskers 

 trimmed in a curve up to their noses, like a couple of horned owls 

 in hats. 



" Here's the man on the cow ! " exclaimed Jack, as he espied 

 Sponge and Jawleyford rising the hill together, easing their horses 

 by standing in their stirrups and holding on by their manes. 



" You don't say so ! " exclaimed Lord Scamperdale, turning his 

 horse in the direction Jack was looking, and staring for hard life 

 too. " So there is, I declare ! " observed he. " And who the 

 deuce is this with him ? " 



" That ass Jawleyford, as I live ! " exclaimed Jack, as the blue- 

 coated servant now hove in sight. 



" So it is!" said Lord Scamperdale ; "the confounded humbug!'''' 



" This boy'll be after one of the young ladies," observed Jack ; 

 " not one of the writing chaps we thought he was." 



" Shouldn't wonder," replied Lord Scamperdale ; adding, in an 

 under tone, " I vote we have a rise out of old Jaw. I'll let you in 

 for a good thing — you shall dine with him." 



" Not I," replied Jack. 



" You shall, though," replied his lordship, firmly. 



" Pray don't ! " entreated Jack. 



"By the powers, if you don't," rejoined his lordship, "you 

 shall not have a mount out of me for a month." 



While this conversation was going on, Jawleyford and Sponge 

 having risen the hill, had resumed their seats in the saddle, and 

 Jawleyford, setting himself in attitude, tickled his horse with his 

 spur, and proceeded to canter becomingly up to the pack ; Sponge 

 and the groom following a little behind. 



" Ah, Jawleyford, my dear fellow ! " exclaimed Lord Scamperdale, 

 putting his horse on a few steps to meet him as he came 

 flourishing up ; " Ah, Jawleyford, my dear fellow, I'm delighted 

 to see you," extending a hand as he spoke. " Jack, here, told me 

 that he saw your flag flying as he passed, and I said what a pity 

 it was but I'd known before ; for Jawleyford, said I, is a real good 



