MD3PAD 469-471

[Toby G Levy]

        Dixon worries about being out at night among the wild creatures
of America. Mason says that they are more afraid of Dixon and he
shouldn't be concerned.

        They debate who was more disturbed during their forced layover
in the inn during the snowstorm last winter.

        Finally, on June 6th, they complete their work on the north
south boundary.  Pynchon advises the reader to stand on the created
intersection and experience the feeling of ambiguity.

vw#106 Dumbledores - bumblebees; also cockchafers (large European
beetles).

        In the Pennsylvaniad, Tox likens the arc of the border to a bee
in flight.

        Near the intersection is a hill that is apparently full of iron
ore, but has not been mined due to the question of which state it is a
part of.

        As soon as their work was completed, Mason and Dixon head back
to Susquehanna to resume work on the west line, to go "as far as the
Country is inhabited."  They understand this to be the crest of the
Allegheny mountains.

        The chain men, Darby and Cope arrive ahead of them and pretend
to be Mason and Dixon, although they switch off who is playing Mason or
Dixon. Mason and Dixon arrive and discover what's going on. They
immediately figure out the pretenders are Darby and Cope. Dixon forgives
them because he feels they are humiliated by not being allowed to touch
any instruments but the chains.

Toby