function preLoadTheseImages()  {

	if (document.images)  { 						// check browser can view images
	
		var imageArray = new Array(); 				// an array to hold image objects
		var imageNum = imageArray.length;			// variable to keep track of number of elements in imaageArray
		var param = arguments;						// an array to hold the parameters passed to the function
		
		for (var i=0; i < param.length; i++)  {	
			imageArray[imageNum] = new Image;		// create image object; held in imageArray
			imageArray[imageNum].src = param[i];	// hold the source to the image file
			imageNum++;								// increment imageNum for next place in imageArray
		}
	}
}