MR. SPONGE'S SPOUTING TOUR. 445 



The white !— the red !— the yaller ! The red !— the white !— the 

 yaller ! and anybody's race ! A sheet would cover them ! — crack ! 

 •whack ! crack ! how they flog ! Hercules springs at the sound. 



Many of the excited spectators begin hallooing, and straddling, 

 and working their arms as if their gestures and vociferations 

 would assist the race. Lord Scamperdale stands transfixed. He 

 is staring through his silver spectacles at the awkwardly lying ball 

 that represents poor Spraggon. 



"By Heavens!'" exclaims he, in an undertone to himself, "7 

 believe he's killed /" And thereupon he swung down the stand- 

 stairs, rushed to his horse, and clapping spurs to his sides, struck 

 ■across the country to the spot. 



Long before he got there the increased uproar of the spectators 

 •announced the final struggle ; and looking over his shoulder, he 

 saw white jacket hugging his horse home, closely followed by red, 

 and shooting past the winning-post. 



" Dash that Mr. Sponge ! " growled his lordship, as the cheers 

 ■of the winners closed the scene. 



" The brute's won, in spite of him ! " gasped Buckram, turning 

 •deadly pale at the sight. 



CHAPTER LX. 



HOW OTHER THINGS CAME OFF. 



'Twere hard to say whether Lucy's joy at Sponge's safety, or 

 Lord Scamperdale's grief at poor Spraggon's death, was most 

 overpowering. Each found relief in a copious flood of tears. 

 Lucy sobbed and laughed, and sobbed and laughed again ; and 

 seemed as if her little heart would burst its bounds. The mob, 

 ever open to sentiment — especially the sentiment of beauty — 

 cheered and shouted as she rode with her lover from the winning 

 to the weighing-post. 



"A', she's a bonny un!" exclaimed a countryman, looking 

 intently up in her face. 



" She is that ! " cried another, doing the same. 



"Three cheers for the lady ! " shouted a tall Shaggyford rough, 

 taking off his woolly cap, and waving it. 



"Hoo-y&j ! Jwo-r&j ! hoo-vay I " shouted a group of flannel-clad 

 navvies. 



" Three for white jacket ! " then roared a blue-coated butcher. 

 who had won as many half-crowns on the race. — Three cheers 

 were given for the unwilling winner. 



