MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



197 



Then, as the hounds crossed the line of scent, there was such an 

 outburst of melody in cover, and such gathering of reins and 

 thrusting on of hats outside ! The hounds dashed out of cover as 

 if somebody was kicking them. A man in scarlet was seen flying 

 through the fog, producing the usual hold-hardings, " Hold hard, 

 sir ! " " God bless you, hold hard, sir ! " with enquiries as to " who 

 the chap was that was going to catch the fox." 



JACK FROSTY AND CHARLEY SLAPP. 



" It's Lumpleg ! " exclaimed one of the Flat Hat men. 



"No, it's not ! " roared a Puffingtonite ; " Lumpleg's here." 



" Then it's Charley Slapp ; he's always doing it," rejoined the 

 first speaker. " Most jealous man in the world." 



" Is he ! " exclaimed Slapp, cantering past at his ease on a 

 thorough-bred grey, as if he could well afford to dispense with a 

 start. 



Reader ! it was neither Lumpleg nor Slapp, nor any of the 



