MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 135 



tongue, and filling the air with joyful melody. Away they swept 

 like a hurricane. " F-o-o-rard ! " was again the cry. 



" Hang it, Jack," exclaimed Lord Scamperdale, laying his 

 hand on his double's shoulder, as they galloped alongside of each 

 other — " Hang it, Jack, see if you can't sarve out this unrighteous, 

 mahogany-booted, rattlesnake. Do if you die for it ! — I'll bury 

 your remainders genteelly — patent coffin with brass nails, all to 

 yourself — put Frosty and all the fellows in black, and raise a 

 white marble monument to your memory, declaring you were the 

 most spotless virtuous man under the sun." 



"Let me off dining with Jaw, and I'll do my best," replied Jack. 



"Bone/" screamed his lordship, flourishing his right arm in 

 the air, as he flew oyer a great stone wall. 



A good many of the horses and sportsmen too had had enough 

 before the hounds checked ; and the quick way Frosty lifted them 

 and hit off the scent, did not give them much time to recruit. Many 

 of them now sat, hat in hand, mopping, and puffing, and turning 

 their red perspiring faces to the wind. " Poough" gasped one, as if 

 he was going to be sick ; " Puff," went another ; " Oh ! but its 

 'ot ! " exclaimed a third, pulling off his limp neckcloth ; " Wonder 

 if there's any ale hereabouts," cried a fourth ; " Terrible run ! " 

 observed a fifth ; " Ten miles at least," gasped another. Mean- 

 while the hounds went streaming on ; and it is wonderful how 

 soon those who don't follow are left hopelessly in the rear. 



Of the few that did follow, Mr. Sponge, however, was one. 

 Nothing daunted by the compliments that had been paid him, he 

 got Hercules well in hand ; and the horse dropping again on the 

 bit, resumed his place in front, going as strong and steadily as 

 ever. Thus he went, throwing the mud in the faces of those 

 behind, regardless of the oaths and imprecations that followed ; 

 Sponge knowing full well they would do the same by him if they 

 could. 



" All jealousy," said Sponge, spurring his horse. " Never saw 

 such a jealous set of dogs in my life." 



An accommodating lane soon presented itself, along which they 

 all pounded, with the hounds running parallel through the 

 enclosures on the left ; Sponge sending such volleys of pebbles 

 and mud in his rear as made it advisable to keep a good way 

 behind him. The line was now apparently for Firlingham 

 Woods ; but on nearing the thatched cottage on Gaspar Heath, 

 the fox, most likely being headed, had turned short to the right ; 

 and the chase now lay over Sheeplow Water meadows, and so on 

 to Bolsover brick-fields, when the pack again changed from 

 hunting to racing, and the pace for a time was severe. His lord- 

 ship having got his second horse at the turn, was ready for the 

 tussle, and plied away vigorously, riding, as usual, with all his 



