'We'd better pull up and walk the horses gently in, p'raps,' observed
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 bedrooms to do it,' observed Jack, as they
passed the lodge. 'Just so,' replied Sponge, adding, 'I dare say we shall
want all the quiet we can get.'
'Oh no!' said Jack; 'the thing's simple enough--met at such a place--found
at such another--killed at so and so.'
'Well, I hope it will,' said Sponge, riding into the stable-yard, and
resigning his steed to the care of his groom.
[Illustration]
Jack did the same by Sponge's other horse, which he had been riding, and in
reply to Leather's inquiry (who stood with his right hand ready, as if to
shake hands with him), 'how the horse had carried him?' replied:
'Cursed ill,' and stamped away without giving him anything.
'Ah, _you're_ a gen'leman, you are,' muttered Leather, as he led the horse
away. 'Now, come!' exclaimed Jack to Sponge, 'come! let's get in before
any of those bothersome fellows come'; adding, as he dived into a passage,
'I'll show you the back way.
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