# split the array down and recurse
    if ($item < $miditem)
    {
        @_ = ($item, @array[0 .. $midpoint]);
        goto &elem_exists;
    }

    # split the array up and recurse
    else
    {
        @_ = ($item, @array[$midpoint + 1 .. $#array] );
        goto &elem_exists;
    }