MD3PAD 340-342

[Toby G Levy]

        After three months of calculations Mason and Dixon have pinned
down the radius between the tangent point and the courthouse, which by
modern methods will prove to be off by only two feet and two inches.

        It's now December and they send they crew back to their homes
for the winter. Now Mason and Dixon can look forward to the west line
next year. Mason and Dixon are staying at the Harland farm, but they are
constantly squabbling and then apologizing, so they decide that a trip
to Lancaster will soothe their nerves.

        Here chapter 33 comes to a close.  There has been a lot of clock
time in this chapter. It was the middle of November 1762 when Mason and
Dixon arrived in the New World back in chapter 26. It takes until
chapter 31 to get to late December. There's no discussion of time in
chapter 32, but chapter 33 begins in summer and by the time it is over,
it's December 1764.

        Chapter 34 begins on page 341. Mason had intended to go to
Lancaster alone to review the carnage committed by the Paxton boys
against the indians, but Dixon said it was too dangerous and went with
him. They arrived in Lancaster on January 10th 1765. They stay at an inn
called The Cross Keys, which is filled with well to do lawyers and
politicians. They hire an earthy guide named Jabez to show them around.

        Their guide takes them first to a tavern called The Dutch Rifle,
where the Paxton boys assembled "just before doing the deed." Mason and
Dixon notice that the sign for the tavern shows a rifle with a five
pointed star on the stock, with two points up and one down, which they
perceive is a sign of the devil. They have seen rifles like this in
South Africa.

        The proprietor of the Dutch Rifle is not happy to see another
touring group and asks them if they are members of the press. Dixon says
they are London surveyors looking for work.

Toby