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fairly free from obstructions. Must it not seem to him 
presumptuousand absurd that a person shouldimagine that he could 
know or could predict anything in connection with the transit of 
a tiny speck such as a star in all that space over an insignificant 
-object, such as a stone lying out alone in a field! And, indeed, a 
hasty visit to Stonehenge would justify the objection. For the 
ground falls from the Temple to the South stone, which lies there 
near the outer earth circle 100 feet away, a scarcely noticeable 
object. And beyond the earth circle, the land slopes down to a 
deep valley ; and the horizon is some two or three miles away, 
beyond the valley ; and it is higher than the site of Stonehenge. 
Wherefore to talk of the transit of a star over that stone would 
‘be utter foolishness. And the same may be said with regard to 
the other stone, as well as the two mounds. 
My reply to this objection is: *‘‘ Let us go to the Temple, to 
the trilithons, and see how that South stone appears from them, 
as we look towards it across the axis of the Temple.” Well! 
there is only one spot from which any one standing up can see the 
South stone at all. For the outer circle stones or the uprights 
Nos. 51, 52, 53 and 54 of the trilithons block out the sight of it 
from all possible stations but one ; and that is the East side of 
No. 60. But when we stand there and look at the South stone 
we observe that between our eye and the Western side of that 
stone the sharp vertical edge of the outer circle upright No. 5 
stands up. And by this the whole contrivance is explained. 
The outlying stone was intended for a signal ; the edge of upright 
No. 5 was a piquet of direction. The two stones taken in line 
enable the observer to make sure of his proper station, and of 
the direction to which he should look. When he had secured 
this alignment the outlying signal stone had no further use for 
him. Its function was exhausted. The observer’s attention 
would thenceforward be directed to the edge of the upright No. 
5. On his left hand he would mark the star it was his duty to 
observe, This star would gradually approach, and at the moment 
