"There you go off at half-cock again, Tutt!"

Our prudent livers display an equal wisdom, not exactly counterfeiting death, but living gingerlyliving, as it were, at half-cock, lest life should go off suddenly with a flash and bang, leaving them nowhere.

Three-fourths of all the gun accidents are owing to this cause; for a blow on the back of the cock is almost sure to explode the cap, while a gun at half-cock is comparatively safe.

Now don't go off half-cock: folks never gains By usin' pepper-sarse instid o' brains.