260 MB. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUB. 



" No," said Jack, " that would be too much. Say ten ; " adding, 

 " that will be four more than it was." 



" Never mind," said Sponge, as he wrote it ; " folks like good 

 measure with runs as well as ribbons." 



" Now we must butter Old Puff," observed Spraggon. 



" What can we say for him 1 " asked Sponge ; " that he never 

 went off the road ? " 



"No, by Jove ! " said Jack ; "you'll spoil all if you do that : 

 better leave it alone altogether than do that. Say, 'the justly 

 popular owner of this most celebrated pack, though riding good 

 fourteen stone ' (he rides far more," observed Jack ; " at least 

 sixteen ; but it'll please him to make out that he can ride four- 

 teen), 'led the welters, on his famous chestnut horse, Tappey 

 Lappey.' " 



" What shall we say about the rest ? " asked Sponge ; " Lumpleg, 

 Slapp, Guano, and all those ? " 



" Oh, say nothin'," replied Jack ; " we've nothin' to do with 

 nobody but Puff ; and we couldn't mention them without bringin' 

 in our Flat Hat men too, Blossomnose, Fyle, Fossick, and so on. 

 Besides, it would spoil all to say that Guano was up — people would 

 say directly it couldn't have been much of a run if Guano was 

 there. You might finish off," observed Jack, after a pause, " by 

 saying that ' after this truly brilliant affair, Mr. Puffington, like a 

 thorough sportsman, and one who never trashes his hounds un- 

 necessarily — unlike some masters,' you may say, ' who never know 

 when to leave off' (that will he a hit at Old Scamp," observed Jack, 

 with a frightful squint), '"returned to Hanby House, where a dis- 

 tinguished party of sportsmen — 'or, say 'a distinguished party of 

 noblemen and gentlemen' — that'll please the ass more — ' a large 



party of noblemen and gentlemen Avere partaking of his' — his 



what shall we call it?" 



" Grub ! " said Sponge. 



" No, no — summut genteel — his — his — his — ' splendid 

 hospitality ! ' " concluded Jack waving his arm triumphantly over 

 his head. 



" Hard work, authorship ! " exclaimed Sponge, as he finished 

 writing, and threw down the pen. 



" Oh, I don't know," replied Jack ; adding, " I could go on for 

 an hour." 



"Ah, you ! — that's all very well," replied Sponge, " for you, 

 squatting comfortably in your arm-chair : but consider me, toil- 

 ing with my pen, bothered with the writing, and craning at the 

 spelling." 



"Never mind, we've done it," replied Jack ; adding, " Puff '11 

 be as pleased as Punch. We've polished him off uncommon. That's 

 just the sort of account to tickle the beggar. He'll go riding 



