MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 141 



" I'll not forget," said Mr. Sponge, booking it in his mind, and 

 eyeing his victim. 



" I'll show you a fine pack of hounds," said Mr. Puffington; " far 

 finer animals than those of old Scamperdale's — steady, true hunting 

 hounds, that won't go a yard without a scent — none of your jealouy 

 flashy, frantic devils, that will tear over half a township without one, 

 and are always looking out for ' holloas ' and assistance " 



Mr. Puffington was interrupted in the comparison he was about 

 to draw between his lordship's hounds and his, by arriving at the 

 Bo'sover brick-fields, and seeing Jack and Blossomnose, horse in 

 hand, running to and fro, while sundry countrymen blobbed about in 

 the clay-hole they had so recently occupied. Tom "Washball, Mr. 

 Wake, Mr. Fyle, Mr. Fossick, and several dark-coated horsemen and 

 boys, were congregated around. Jack had lost his spectacles, and 

 Blossomnose his whip, and the countrymen were diving for them. 



" Not hurt, I hope? " said Mr. Puffington, in the most dandified 

 tone of indifference,, as he rode up to where Jack and Blossomnose 

 were churniDg the water in their boots, stamping up and down, trying 

 to get themselves warm. 



" Hurt be hanged ! " replied Jack, who had a frightful squint, 

 that turned his eyes inside out when he was in a passion : " Hurt be 

 hanged ! " said he ; " might have been drowned, for anything you'd 

 have cared." 



" I should have been sorry for that," replied Mr. Puffington ; 

 adding, " The Flat Hat Hunt could ill-afford to lose so useful and 

 ornamental a member." 



u I don't know what the Flat Hat Hunt can afford to lose," splut- 

 tered Jack, who hadn't got all the clay out of his mouth ; " but I know 

 they can afford to do without the company of certain gentlemen who 

 shall be nameless," said he, looking at Sponge and Puffington as he 

 thought, but in reality showing nothing but the whites of his eyes. 



'• I told you so," said Puffington, jerking his head towards Jack, 

 as Sponge and he turned their horses' heads to ride away ; " I told 

 you so," repeated he ; " that's a specimen of their style ; adding, 

 " they are the greatest set of ruffians under the sun." 



The new acquaintances then jogged on together as far as the cross 

 roads at Stewley, when Puffington, having bound Sponge in his own 

 recognisance to come to him when he left Jawleyford Court, pointed 

 him out his way, and with a most hearty shake of the hands the new- 

 made friends parted. 



