240 MR. sponge's sporting tour. 



account — at least I can ; but then you must do it. He wouldn't 

 take it as any compliment from me. It's the stranger that sees all 

 things in their true lights. D' ye understand ? " asked he, eagerly. 



" I twig," replied Sponge. 



" You write the account," continued Jack, " and I'll manage the 

 rest." 



" You must help me," observed Sponge. 



" Certainly," replied Jack; "we'll do it together, and go halves 

 in the plunder." 



" Humph," mused Sponge: " halves," said he to himself. " And 

 what will you give me for my half? " asked he. 



" Give you ! " exclaimed Jack brightening up. " Give you! Let 

 me see," continued he, pretending to consider, — Puff's rich — Puff's 

 a liberal fellow — Puff's a conceited beggar: — mix it strong," said 

 Jack, " and I'll give you ten pounds." 



" Make it twelve," replied Sponge, after a pause. 



If Jack had said twelve, Sponge would have asked fourteen. 



" Couldn't," said Jack, with a shake of the head ; " it really isn't 

 with (worth) the money." 



The two then rode on in silence for some little distance. 



" I'll tell you what I'll do," said Jack, spurring his horse, and 

 trotting up the space that the other had now shot ahead. " I'll split 

 the difference with you ! " 



" Well, give me the sov.," said Sponge, holding out his hand for 

 earnest. 



" Why, I haven't a sov. upon me," replied Jack ; " but, honour 

 bright, I'll do what I say." 



" Give me eleven golden sovereigns for my chance," repeated 

 Sponge, slowly, in order that there might be no mistake. 



" Eleven golden sovereigns for your chance," repeated Jack. 



" Done ! " replied Sponge. 



" Done ! " repeated Jack. 



" Let's jog on and do it at once while the thing's fresh in our 

 minds," said Jack, working his horse into a trot. 



Sponge did the same ; and the grass-siding of Orlantire Park- 

 wall favouring their design, they increased the trot to a canter. 

 They soon passed the park's bounds, and entering upon one of those 

 rarities — an unenclosed common, angled its limits so as to escape the 

 side-bar, and turning up Farningham Green lane, came out upon the 

 Kingsworth and Swillingford turnpike within sight of Hanby House. 



" We'd better pull up and walk the horses gently in, p'raps," ob- 

 served Sponge, reining his in. 



" Ah ! I was only wantin' to get home before the rest," observed 

 Jack, pulling up too. 



They then proceeded more leisurely together. 



" We'd better get into one of our bed-rooms to do it," observed 

 Jack, as they passed the lodge. 



