At the magic sound, fear comes over some, joy over others, intense anxiety over all.

What commotion! What indecision! What confusion! 'Which way ?--Which way ?' is the cry.
'Twang, twang, twang,' goes old Tom's horn at the top of the wood, whither he seems to have flown, so quick has he got there.
A dark-coated gentleman on a good family horse solves the important question--'Which way ?'--by diving at once into the wood, crashing along till he comes to a cross-road that leads to the top, when the scene opening to 'open fresh fields and pastures new,' discloses divers other sections struggling up in long drawn files, following other leaders, all puffing, and wheezing and holding on by the manes, many feeling as if they had had enough already--'Quick!' is the word, for the tail-hounds are flying the fence out of the first field over the body of the pack, which are running almost mute at best pace beyond, looking a good deal smaller than is agreeable to the eyes of a sportsman.
'F--o--o--r--rard!' screams old Tom, flying the fence after them, followed by jealous jostling riders in scarlet and colours, some anxious, some easy, some wanting to be at it, some wanting to look as if they did, some wishing to know if there was anything on the far side.
Now Tom tops another fence, rising like a rocket and dropping like a bird; still 'F--o--o--r--rard!' is the cry--away they go at racing pace.
The field draws out like a telescope, leaving the largest portion at the end, and many--the fair and fat ones in particular--seeing the hopelessness of the case, pull up their horses, while yet on an eminence that commands a view.

Fifteen or twenty horsemen enter for the race, and dash forward, though the hounds rather gain on old Tom, and the further they go the smaller the point of the telescope becomes.

The pace is awful; many would give in but for the ladies.

At the end of a mile or so, the determined ones show to the front, and the spirters and 'make-believes' gladly avail themselves of their pioneering powers.
Mr.Sponge, who got well through the wood, has been going at his ease, the great striding brown throwing the large fields behind him with ease, and taking his leaps safely and well.