258 mr. sponge's spouting tour. 



5Tes, Mr. Sponge," continued he, addressing himself to our hero, 

 "Mr. Pacey fancies the chestnut, and challenges him." 



" Why doesn't he ask the price ?" replied Sponge, -who was always 

 ready for a deal. 



" Ah, the price must be left to a third party," said Jack. " The 

 principle of the thing is this," continued he, enlisting the aid of his 

 fingers to illustrate his position : " Mr. Pacey, here," said he, apply- 

 ing the fore-finger of his right hand to the thumb of the left, look- 

 ing earnestly at Sponge, but in reality squinting up at the chandelier 

 — " Mr. Pacey here challenges your horse Multum-in-somethm' — I 

 forget what you said you called him — but the nag I rode to-day. 

 Well then," continued Jack," you" (demonsrating Sponge by pressing 

 his two forefingers together, and holding them erect) " accept the 

 challenge, but can challenge anything Mr. Pacey has — a horse, dog, 

 gun — anything, and, having fixed on somethin', then a third party " 

 (who Jack represented by cocking up his thumb), " any one you like 

 to name makes the award. Well, having agreed upon that party" 

 (Jack still cocking up the thumb to represent the arbitrator), " he says, 

 ' Give me money.' The two then put, say half-a-crown or five 

 shillin's each, into his hand, to which the arbitrator adds the same 

 sum for himself. That being done, the arbitrator says, ' Hands in 

 pockets, gen'lemen' " (Jack diving his right hand up to the hilt in his 

 own). " If this be an award, Mr. Pacey's horse gives Mr. Sponge's 

 horse so much — draio." (Jack suiting the action to the word, and 

 laying his fist on the table.) " If each person's hand contains money, 

 it is an award — it is a deal ; arid the arbitrator gets the half-crowns, 

 or what ever it is, for his trouble ; so that, in course, he has a direct 

 interest in makin' such an award as will lead to a deal. Now do you 

 understand ? " continued Jack, addressing himself earnestly to Sponge. 



" I think I do," replied Sponge, who had been at the game pretty 

 often. 



" Well, then," continued Jack, reverting to his original position, 

 "my friend, Mr. Pacey here, challenges your chestnut." 



" No, never mind" muttered Pacey, peevishly, in an under tone, 

 with a frown on his face, giving Jack a dig in the ribs with his elbow. 

 " Never mind," repeated lie ; "/ don't care about it — /don't want 

 the horse." 



" But / do," growled Jack ; adding, in an under tone also, as he 

 stooped for his napkin, " donH spoil sport man ; he's as good a horse 

 as ever stepped; and if you challenge him, I'll stand between you and 

 danger." 



" But he may challenge something I don't want to part with," 

 observed Pacey. 



" Then you've nothin' to do," replied Jack, " but bring up your 

 hand without any money in it." 



" Ah ! I forgot," replied Pacey, who did not like to appear what 



