MD3PAD 319-321

[Toby G Levy]

        Dixon gets his mysterious watch back from the ship's strongbox
when they arrive in Philadelphia and it is still keeping good time.

        Dixon offers to let Mason listen to it one day when they are
working on the Tangent line. According to the Wikipedia:

"The Mason-Dixon "line" is actually made up of four segments
corresponding to the terms of the settlement: Tangent Line, North Line,
Arc Line, and 39° 43' N parallel. The most difficult task was fixing the
Tangent Line, as they had to confirm the accuracy of the Transpeninsular
Line mid-point and the Twelve-Mile Circle, determine the tangent point
along the circle, then actually survey and monument the border. They
then surveyed the North and Arc Lines."

        Dixon continues to pester Mason about the watch and asks if
Mason has ever seen him wind it. Mason says no, but says Dixon could
trick him if he wanted to. He does not believe in perpetual motion.
Eventually he takes Dixon's watch to his ear and sings a song to the
beat of the watch's mechanism.

        Dixon suffers as the watch continues to work without being
wound.  He begins to think that Emerson has cursed him. Although he
swore to keep the watch safe, he begins to try to find ways of getting
rid of it.

vw#77: shagreen -  An untanned leather with a granular surface that is
often dyed green.

        Dixon thinks the watch in it's carrying case resembles a
vegetable and he seeks out Professor Voam "camp naturalist" in his crew
for information, but the professor advises that vegetables don't tick.
The professor advises him to talk to "R. C." another crew member who is
a land surveyor and who likes puzzles.  But as soon as R.C. sees the
watch he lusts after it with "Mens Rea" which is Latin for "criminal
intent"

vw#78: obloquy -  Abusively detractive language or utterance.

Toby