. Great was the astonishment of each as the other cast
up.

'Why, here's Joe Reeves!' exclaimed Blossomnose. 'Who'd have thought of
seeing you?'

'And who'd have thought of seeing _you_?' rejoined Reeves, shaking hands
with the jolly old nose.

'Here's Tom Washball in time for once, I declare!' exclaimed Mr. Fyle, as
Mr. Washball cantered up in apple-pie order.

'Wonders will never cease!' observed Fossick, looking Washy over.

So the field sat in a ring about the hounds in the centre of which, as
usual, were Jack and Lord Scamperdale, looking with their great
tortoise-shell-rimmed spectacles, and short grey whiskers trimmed in a
curve up to their noses, like a couple of horned owls in hats.

'Here's the man on the cow!' exclaimed Jack, as he espied Sponge and
Jawleyford rising the hill together, easing their horses by standing in
their stirrups and holding on by their manes.

'You don't say so!' exclaimed Lord Scamperdale, turning his horse in the
direction Jack was looking, and staring for hard life too. 'So there is, I
declare!' observed he.' And who the deuce is this with him?'

'That ass Jawleyford, as I live!' exclaimed Jack, as the blue-coated
servant now hove in sight.

'So it is!' said Lord Scamperdale; 'the confounded humbug!'

'This boy'll be after one of the young ladies,' observed Jack; 'not one of
the writing chaps we thought he was.'

'Shouldn't wonder,' replied Lord Scamperdale; adding, in an undertone, 'I
vote we have a rise out of old Jaw. I'll let you in for a good thing--you
shall dine with him.'

'Not I,' replied Jack.

'You _shall_, though,' replied his lordship firmly.

'Pray don't!' entreated Jack.

'By the powers, if you don't,' rejoined his lordship, 'you shall not have a
mount out of me for a month.'

While this conversation was going on, Jawleyford and Sponge, having risen
the hill, had resumed their seats in the saddle, and Jawleyford, setting
himself in attitude, tickled his horse with his spur, and proceeded to
canter becomingly up to the pack; Sponge and the groom following a little
behind.

'Ah, Jawleyford, my dear fellow!' exclaimed Lord Scamperdale, putting his
horse on a few steps to meet him as he came flourishing up. 'Ah,
Jawleyford, my dear fellow, I'm delighted to see you,' extending a hand as
he spoke. 'Jack, here, told me that he saw your flag flying as he passed,
and I said what a pity it was but I'd known before; for Jawleyford, said I,
is a real good fel