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The dowser will determine the path of the flowing water in the pipe being used, and this path will be marked on the ground.

The dowser will place from ten to one hundred pegs in the ground along the path he traces.

To be counted, a peg must be placed within 10 centimeters of the center of the pipe being traced.

Two thirds of the pegs put in the ground in each of the three tests for each dowser must be placed within the limits specified by condition 10 for that test to be considered a success.

Placement of each peg will be transferred to a scale chart by the surveyor to the satisfaction of the dowser, who will sign this chart along with Mr. Randi, the lawyer, and other witnesses.

No results will be announced until all tests are finished and the location of the pipes is revealed.

After a dowser has performed, he will be isolated from those yet to be tested.

Two out of three of the tests must be successful (as in condition 11) for the dowser to have passed the testing procedure.

If a dowser passes the test (conditions 11 and 15), the check for $10,000, which has been deposited with the lawyer, will be awarded to him. If no dowser is successful, the check will be returned to Mr. Randi.

If the test is failed, no further claim may be made against Mr. Randi.

Construction of the site is begun. The inlets will be on the right, the outlets on the left.

The inlets before they were covered. From top left, counterclockwise, they are A, B, and C.

Paths B and C cross each other, but water runs through only one pipe at a time.

A few additional points were added after consultation with the dowsers. I specified that no single pipe crossed itself, though it might cross others. Only one pipe would have water in it at any particular time. Pipes outside the square would not run along the side within 50 centimeters of the edge. With these additions, everyone was satisfied.

Next, the engineers' statement was read to all:

There are three paths, laid according to James Randi's instructions on the engineering plan.

Valves A,A control flow in pipe path A. Valves B,B control flow in pipe path B. Valves C,C control flow in pipe path C.

When both valves on any path are opened, water flows at a rate of at least five liters per second.

I have not communicated any information about this plan to anyone except those directly involved in construction.

The outlets as the dowsers saw them.

The outlets into the reservoir are tested before the pipes are covered.

Finally, a list of questions for the dowsers:

Are you a professional, semiprofessional, or amateur dowser?

To what do you attribute your power?

Have you read and understood the list of conditions?

Are these conditions satisfactory?

Do you feel able to perform today?

Have you ever done a test so carefully controlled?

Have you read and understood the engineer's statement?

Is the water flow sufficient for your abilities?

Do you agree that this test will determine the validity of your powers?

The completed layout of the dowsing site. The plot was reduced to an area of nine by ten meters due to last-minute problems at the site.

The last question was struck out by all the dowsers—a fortunate choice for them, as we shall see.

Just before each dowser started the tests, he was asked (1) what he felt his rate of success would be (all answered either "99 percent" or "100 percent") and (2) what he would conclude if he was, for example, 90 degrees out of line with the actual water flow (all answered that this was an impossibility).

The water-pipe network is covered and the dirt is leveled.

The traditional (in the United States) dowsing rod. A forked stick, held as shown, is put under stress as the heels of the hands are turned toward the body. When this is done, it is quite difficult to keep the rod horizontal, and any shift of the grip or twist of the wrist will cause a deflection upward or downward.

A slight turn of the wrists has caused the rod to move downward,