106 SPORTING ADVENTURES OF 



Soapy Sponge turned up, looking as smart and 

 spruce as ever. 



We cannot go through the breakfast — or the 

 speech of Mr Head, and the other by Mr Over, or 

 the regrets of the company on their resigning the 

 joint mastership, or the cheers on the announcement 

 that Captain Martaingail had consented to keep 

 them on. 



" Devilish good feed," growled Jack Spraggon to 

 Sponge, who was drawing on his buckskin gloves. 

 Jack was a little elevated ; for he had not spared 

 the cherry-brandy or the milk punch. 



" It was that," replied his friend. " Feel as if 

 you could ride this morning, don't you ? " 



" Yes, I can — always do ; but no chance of it 

 with such dogs as these." 



" Don't know about that," returned Sponge. 

 " They generally find, and kill too." 



Such a field had been rarely seen with the 

 Sternum hounds — horsemen, carriages, mounted 

 ladies, all eager. 



" Let the whips be with you, or rather at the 

 outside of the cover, to keep the people back," 

 whispered Captain Martaingail to the huntsman. 

 " I will go to the top of the cover when I give the 

 view halloa. You know what to do." 



" Certain of a fox, I suppose, Martaingail ? " 



