It looks like the tails are exiting from the same spaces but they're not -- they are from opposite lays. There are paired left-hand strands and right-hand strands. One from each pair was cut after 4 full tucks, then each single strand is considered a half tuck. The final cut was after three more half tucks. Yale's splicing instructions said only 2 half-tucks were needed, but I threw in one more for good measure in case a tuck pulled out. Will cut the tails flush after the rope has been used a bit and the splice has had a chance to "work".

I had put a red mark on the right-hand lays, and blue on the left ones, to help me keep track. When you make the first tucks you need to be careful to tuck under the opposite lay (and continue that way) or the twist will be wrong throughout the splice. I find the 8-plait (this is Yale Brait) easier on my hands than 3-strand.