A sporting old gentleman, who was very deaf, always took a small boy
with him shooting, whose duty seemed to be to stand behind his master
and do nothing. He never carried cartridges, and looked incapable of
loading a gun. One day we asked the boy to explain his mission in life.
"'Tis this way," said he. "In each hand I holds a pin, and I gives the
master a prick behind to let him know when game be a-coming--if on this
side or on t'other."
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