Thank you all so very much for your efforts.
I especially want to thank CombatSquirrel, and BrowserUK.
Between the two of you I now not only understand more clearly what the C code does, but how it is doing it, and +++ to BrowserUK, I hadn't even gotten to the point of thinking that having a routine to encode with might be handy (For testing, say). That was a completely unexpected and much appreciated bonus.

I am formally out of the doldrums, and sailing full speed ahead on my project.

It is my hope that someday I will accumulate enough knowledge to be able to contribute in similar fashion, here in the Monestary, to the enlightenment of my fellow Monks.

A much less confused Acolyte,
Mike Gucciard