MR.. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 273 



horse as ever stepped ; and if you'll challenge him, I'll stand 

 between you and danger." 



" But he may challenge something I don't want to part with," 

 observed Pacey. 



" Then you've nothin' to do," replied Jack, " but bring up your 

 hand without any money in it." 



" Ah ! I forgot," replied Pacey, who did not like not to appear 

 what he called " fly." " Well, then, I challenge your chestnut ! " 

 exclaimed he, perking up, and shouting up the table to Sponge. 



" Good ! " replied our friend. " I challenge your watch and 

 chain, then," looking at Pacey's chain-daubed vest. 



" Name me arbitrator," muttered Jack, as he again stooped for 

 his napkin. 



"Who shall handicap us? Captain Guano, Mr. Lumpleg, or 

 who ? " asked Sponge. 



" Suppose we say Spraggon ? — he says he rode the horse to-day," 

 replied Pacey. 



" Quite agreeable," said Sponge. 



" Now, Jack ! " " Now, Spraggon ! " " Now, old Solomon ! " 

 " Now, Doctor Wiseman," resounded from different parts of the table. 



Jack looked solemn ; and diving both hands into his breeches' 

 pockets, stuck out his legs extensively before him. 



" Give me money," said he, pompously. They each handed him 

 half-a-crown ; and Jack added a third for himself. " Mr. Pacey 

 challenges Mr. Sponge's chestnut horse, and Mr. Sponge challenges 

 Mr. Pacey's gold watch," observed Jack, sententiously. 



" Come, old Slowman, go on ! " exclaimed Guano ; adding, 

 " have you got no further than that ? " 



"Hurry no man's cattle," replied Jack, tartly; adding, "you 

 may keep a donkey yourself some day." 



" Mr. Pacey challenges Mr. Sponge's chestnut horse," repeated 

 Jack. " How old is the chestnut, Mr. Sponge ? " added he, 

 addressing himself to our friend. 



" Upon my word I hardly know," replied Sponge, " he's past 

 mark of month : but I think a hunter's age has very little to do 

 with his worth." 



" Who-y, that depends," rejoined Jack, blowing out his cheeks, 

 and looking as pompous as possible — " that depends a good deal 

 upon how he's been used in his youth." 



" He's about nine, I should say," observed Sponge, pretending 

 to have been calculating, though, in reality, he knew nothing 

 whatever about the horse's age. " Say nine, or rising ten, and 

 never did a day's work till he was six." 



" Indeed ! " said Jack, with an important bow ; adding, " being 

 easy with them at the beginnin' puts on a deal to the end. Perfect 

 hunter, I 'spose ? " 



