108 SPORTING ADVENTURES OF 



beyond. The hounds took up the drag at once, and 

 raced away. 



" Yonder he goes ! " exclaimed the captain, point- 

 ing with his whip to some imaginary object, 

 and, digging the latchfords into his horse, was 

 away. 



The first fence was a flight of sheep - hurdles, 

 stretching the whole way across a large turnip field. 

 Here Jawleyford on his old cob came to grief, being 

 sent flying right through his ears. 



" Sarve you right ! " muttered Spraggon, as Daddy 

 Longlegs took it in his stride. " You would not do 

 a bit of paper for me last week. May you lie there 

 for a month ! " 



" Pick up the bits," roared Sponge to him as he 

 galloped past, " and lay in a fresh stock of that 

 famous port of yours." 



But the hounds were carrying too good a head 

 for much chaff. The gentlemen of the Sternum 

 hunt were riding like mad. Already horses began 

 to sob ; for the pace was a rattler, and the country 

 heavy. The celebrated Kushpool brook was before 

 them — that brook that so many have plumbed the 

 depth of. It wants a deal of doing. 



Lord Wildrace charged it, so did Spraggon ; but 

 both were in. Sponge, on Hercules flew over. 

 Slowman and the Captain did it a little lower 



