274 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



" Why you can judge of that yourself," replied Sponge. 



" Perfect hunter, I should say," rejoined Jack, " and steady at 

 his fences — don't know that I ever rode a better fencer. Well," 

 continued he, having apparently pondered all that over in his 

 mind, " I must trouble you to let me look at your ticker," said he, 

 turning short round on his neighbour. 



" There," said Mr. Pacey, producing a fine flash watch from his 

 waistcoat-pocket, and holding it to Jack. 



"The chain's included in the challenge, mind," observed 

 Sponge. 



" In course," said Jack ; " it's what the pawnbrokers call a 

 watch with its appurts." (Jack had his watch at his uncle's and 

 knew the terms exactly.) 



" It's a repeater, mind," observed Pacey, taking off the chain. 



" The chain's heavy," said Jack, running it up in his hand ; 

 " and here's a pistol-key and a beautiful pencil-case, with the 

 Pacey crest and motto," observed Jack, trying to decipher the 

 latter. " If it had been without the words, whatever they are," 

 said he, giving up the attempt, " it would have been worth more, 

 but the gold's fine, and a new stone can easily be put in." 



He then pulled an old hunting-card out of his pocket, and 

 proceeded to make sundry calculations and estimates in pencil on 

 the back. 



" Well now," said he, at length, looking up, " I should say, such 

 a watch as that and appurts," holding them up, " couldn't be 

 bought in a shop under eight-and-twenty pund." 



" It cost five-and-thirty," observed Mr. Pacey. 



" Did it ! " rejoined Jack ; adding, "then you were done." 



Jack then proceeded to do a little more arithmetic, during 

 which process Mr. Puffington passed the wine and gave as a toast — • 

 " Success to the handicap." 



" Well," at length said Jack, having apparently struck a balance, 

 " hands in pocket, gen'lemen. If this is an award, Mr. Pacey's 

 gold watch and appurts gives Mr. Sponge's chestnut horse seventy 

 golden sovereigns. Show money,'''' whispered Jack to Pacey, adding, 

 " I'll stand the shot.'' 



" Stop ! " roared Guano, " do either of you sport your hand ? " 



" Yes, I do," replied Mr. Pacey, coolly. 



" And I," said Mr. Sponge. 



" Hold hard, then, gen'leman ! " roared Jack, getting excited, 

 and beginning to foam. " Hold hard, gen'lemen ! " repeated he, 

 just as he was in the habit of roaring at the troublesome customers 

 in Lord Scamperdale's field ; " Mr. Pacey and Mr. Sponge both 

 sport their hands." 



" I'll lay a guinea Pacey doesn't hold money," exclaimed 

 Guano. 



