+ first_list = list;
+ first_length = (length + 1) / 2;
+ second_length = length / 2;
+ for (cursor = list, counter = first_length - 1;
+ counter;
+ cursor = SUCCESSOR (cursor), counter--)
+ continue;
+ second_list = SUCCESSOR (cursor);
+ SUCCESSOR (cursor) = 0;
+
+ first_list = merge_sort (first_list, first_length, compare);
+ second_list = merge_sort (second_list, second_length, compare);
+
+ merge_point = &result;
+ while (first_list && second_list)
+ if ((*compare) (first_list, second_list) < 0)
+ {
+ cursor = SUCCESSOR (first_list);
+ *merge_point = first_list;
+ merge_point = &SUCCESSOR (first_list);
+ first_list = cursor;
+ }
+ else
+ {
+ cursor = SUCCESSOR (second_list);
+ *merge_point = second_list;
+ merge_point = &SUCCESSOR (second_list);
+ second_list = cursor;
+ }
+ if (first_list)
+ *merge_point = first_list;
+ else
+ *merge_point = second_list;