# File DelimScanner.rb, line 479
        def scanVariable( prefix='\s*' )
                self.matchError       = nil
                result                        = nil
                startPos              = self.pointer

                depth = self.scanDepth

                begin
                        result = matchVariable( prefix )
                rescue MatchFailure => e
                        debugMsg( depth + 1, "Match error: %s" % e.message )
                        self.matchError = e.message
                        self.pointer = startPos
                        result = nil
                rescue => e
                        self.pointer = startPos
                        Kernel::raise
                end

                return result
        end