At covert shoots beaters often behave in unaccountable ways; but it
is not every day a beater is seen crawling about on hands and knees.
A guest at a covert shoot, surprised at such a sight, inquired about
the beater's object. "Beg pardon, sir; I thought as 'ow you was the
guv'ner," said the beater, rising. A further question as to why the
guv'ner should be met on all fours brought this answer: "Well, you see,
sir, 'tis this way like--the guv'ner, 'e don't allow no game to git up
'igh, not if 'e can anyways 'elp it. Not 'e, for 'e wops it into any
birds as rises 'ardly afore they be got on their wings like. So you
see, sir, soon as I thinks I be gittin' dangerous near 'im, I allus
reckons to be a bit careful."
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