e who _were_ out will blab, won't they?' asked Sponge.

'Only to each other,' replied Jack. 'They'll all stand up for the truth of
it as against strangers. You need never be afraid of over-eggin' the
puddin' for those that were out.'

'Well, then,' observed Sponge, looking at his paper to report progress,
'we've got the hounds to a check. "Here the hounds came to a check,"' read
he. 'Ah! now, then,' said Jack, in a tone of disgust, 'we must say summut
handsome of Bragg; and of all conceited animals under the sun, he certainly
is the most conceited. I never saw such a man! How that unfortunate,
infatuated master of his keeps him, I can't for the life of me imagine.
_Master_! faith, Bragg's the _master_,' continued Jack, who now began to
foam at the mouth. 'He laughs at old Puff to his face; yet it's wonderful
the influence Bragg has over him. I really believe he has talked Puff into
believing that there's not such another huntsman under the sun, and really
he's as great a muff as ever walked. He can just dress the character, and
that's all.' So saying Jack wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his red coat
preparatory to displaying Mr. Bragg upon paper.

'Well, now we are at fault,' said Jack, motioning Sponge to resume; 'we are
at fault; now say, "but Mr. Bragg, who had ridden gallantly on his
favourite bay, as fine an animal as ever went, though somewhat past mark of
mouth--" He _is_ a good horse, at least _was_,' observed Jack, adding, 'I
sold Puff him, he was one of old Sugarlip's,' meaning Lord Scamperdale's.

'Sure to be a good 'un, then,' replied Sponge, with a wink, adding, 'I
wonder if he'd like to buy any more?'

'We'll talk about that after,' replied Jack, 'at present let us get on with
our run.'

'Well,' said Sponge, 'I've got it: "Mr. Bragg, who had ridden gallantly on
his favourite bay, as fine an animal as ever went, though somewhat past
mark of mouth--"'

'"Was well up with his hounds,"' continued Jack, '"and with a gently,
Rantipole! and a single wave of his arm, proceeded to make one of those
scientific casts for which this eminent huntsman is so justly celebrated."
Justly _celebrated_!' repeated Jack, spitting on the carpet with a hawk of
disgust; 'the conceited self-sufficient bantam-cock never made a cast worth
a copper, or rode a yard but when he thought somebody was looking at him.'

'I've got it,' said Sponge, who had plied his pen to good purpose.

'Justly celebrated,' repeated Jack, with a sn