problem with $$ between make 3.81 and 3.79

[Rupert Brooks]

Hi,

I'm having trouble getting the same behavior between two versions of
make.  I don't really have the option of upgrading the older one, so I'm
looking for a workaround, if possible.

On this version:

===============================================================
$ make -version
GNU Make 3.81
Copyright (C) 2006  Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.
There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

This program built for i686-pc-cygwin
===============================================================

this Makefile:
===============================================================
TEST=blah="value of the variable";echo $(1)

DS=$$

works1:
        $(call TEST,the variable is: $$blah)
works2:
        $(call TEST,the variable is: $(DS)blah)
===============================================================

gives this output - which is what i want
===============================================================
$ make -f make.test works1
blah="value of the variable";echo the variable is: $blah
the variable is: value of the variable

$ make -f make.test works2
blah="value of the variable";echo the variable is: $blah
the variable is: value of the variable
===============================================================

However on this version
===============================================================
$ make --version
GNU Make version 3.79.1, by Richard Stallman and Roland McGrath.
Built for i386-redhat-linux-gnu
Copyright (C) 1988, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000
        Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.
There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Report bugs to <address@hidden>.
===============================================================

I get this result - is there anyway i can hide dollar signs in a call
with this version of make, or is there another way to do what i want?
===============================================================
$ make -f make.test works1
blah="value of the variable";echo the variable is: lah
the variable is: lah
$ make -f make.test works2
blah="value of the variable";echo the variable is: lah
the variable is: lah
===============================================================
Thanks much,

Rupert B.

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------
Rupert Brooks
McGill Centre for Intelligent Machines (www.cim.mcgill.ca)
Ph.D Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
http://www.cyberus.ca/~rbrooks