MD3PAD 703-705

[Toby G Levy]

        The epitaph for himself that Mason has just composed is in two
verses.  The first states that his goal in life was to reach a state of
contentment somewhere between "lust and duty." He compares the state to
a paradise, comparing it to St Brendan's Isle, a legendary island that
is supposedly where Eden from the bible was located.  The second verse
is sad, saying that the daily grind has worn away all of his hopes but
one.

        That one hope is that he will be reunited with his beloved
Rebekah. He recalls seeing her one night walking along the visto.  She
tells him he must leave Dixon and return home. He asks if she dislikes
Dixon. She does not reply directly, but says that Dixon is too cheery
and wants Mason to forget her.  She suggests that Mason's time with
Dixon is over and he needs to go back to his astrological work.

        Mason and Dixon make their last visit to New York City.  They
search around for the people they met on previous visits but none are to
be found. They find the city less hospitable than in the past.

        Waiting for a boat to take them to Halifax, they are stricken
with fear that they are in the midst of a group of unfriendly people.

        A stranger speaks to them. He is vaguely familiar.  He speaks to
them cryptically and promises to continue the conversation at sea.
Although they look for him throughout the voyage they cannot find him on
the ship.

        Mason makes a note in his journal that they left Halifax on
September 11th, 1768, ending their stay in America. This concludes
chapter 72.

Toby