134 MR. SPONGE'S SrORTENG TOUR. 



As Jack made this inquiry, lie took a hurried glance at the now 

 pouring out pack ; and seeing they were safe away, he wiped the foam 

 from his mouth on his sleeve, dropped into his saddle, and catching 

 his horse short round by the head, clapped spurs into his sides, and 

 galloped away, exclaiming, 



"Now, ye tinkers, we'll all start fair ! " 



Then there was such a scrimmage ! such jostling and elbowing 

 among the jealous ones; such ramming and cramming among the 

 eager ones ; such pardon-begging among the polite ones ; such spurt- 

 ing of ponies, such clambering of cart-horses ! All were bent on 

 going as far as they could — all except Jawleyford, who sat curvetting 

 and prancing in the patronizing sort of way gentlemen do who en- 

 courage hounds for the sake of the manly spirit the sport engen- 

 ders, and the advantage hunting is of in promoting our unrivalled 

 breed of horses. 



His lordship having slipped away, horn in hand, under pretence 

 of blowing the hounds out of cover, as soon as he set Jack at the 

 field, had now got a good start, and, horse well in hand, was sailing 

 away in their wake. 



" F-o-o-r-r-ard I " screamed Frostyface, coming up alongside of 

 him, holding his horse — a magnificent thoroughbred bay — well by the 

 head, and settling himself into his saddle as he went. 



" F-o-r-rard ! " screeched his lordship, thrusting his spectacles 

 on to his nose. 



" Twang — twang — tivang" went the huntsman's deep-sounding 

 horn. 



" T y weet — tfweet — tficect" went his lordship's shriller one. 



" In for a stinger, my lurd," observed Jack, returning his horn to 

 the case. 



" Hope so," replied his lordship, pocketing his. 



They then flew the first fence together. 



" F-o-r-r-ard ! " screamed Jack in the air, as he saw the hounds 

 packing well together, and racing with a breast-high scent. 



" F-o-r-rard I " screamed his lordship, who was a sort of echo to 

 his huntsman, just as Jack Spraggon was echo to his lordship. 



" He's away for Gunnersby Craigs," observed Jack, pointing that 

 way, for they were good ten miles off. 



" Hope so," replied his lordship, for whom the distance could 

 never be too great, provided the pace corresponded. 



a F-o-o-r-rard ! ' " screamed Jack. 



" F-o-r-rard ! " screeched his lordship. 



So they went flying and " forrardiug " together ; none of the 

 field — thanks to Jack Spraggon — being able to overtake them. 



" Y-o-o-nder he goes ! " at last cried Frosty, taking off his cap as 

 he viewed the fox, some half-mile ahead, stealing away round the 

 side of Newiugton hill. 



