MD3PAD 106-108

[Toby G Levy]

        Wicks fills in the blanks of his personal witness with generally
known facts about Maskelyne.  He was 29 when he arrived on St. Helena
four years younger than Mason and a year older than Dixon). It was his
first time away from home and St. Helena was well known to be a sinful
place. He was aware that his astronomical equipment was defective and
that he would not be able to participate in the observation of the
Transit of Venus.  Wicks and the rest of the roomful of LeSparks wonder
what kept Maskelyne sane during the year he spent on St. Helena.

        Wicks tale of Mason and Dixon on St. Helena with Maskelyne take
up the next 75 pages. They are a combination of Wick's imagination,
punctuated with backfilling the stories of the younger days of Mason and
Dixon.

        Mason and Dixon arrive on St. Helena in the port of James's Town
and they hear the roar of the ocean no matter where they go on the
island . Mason notes that the main feature of the heavens is that the
darkness appears to rise and fall periodically instead of sunrise and
sunset.  Musing on stars prominent in skies, Mason muses that there
should be astrological signs for the Dragon, the Dog and the Whale. The
star seems to shine with a yellow light, making it a yellow dog.

        The wind is intense throughout the island and the sea seems to
be suspended above the island.

        Prominent in the landscape are a pair of gallows, which at the
time was considered essential to slavery, which was considered essential
to commerce.

Toby