Then he sprinkled fresh earth over the pathways and around each
trap and bait so he should have a record of the tracks.
Foxes came that night, as he learned by the footprints along the
beach, but never one went near his traps. He studied the marks;
they slowly told him all the main facts. The foxes had come as
usual, and frolicked about. They had discovered the bait and the
traps at once -- how could such sharp noses miss them -- and as
quickly noted that the traps were suspicious-smelling iron
things, that manscent, hand, foot, and body, were very evident
all about; that the only inducement to go forward was some meat
which was coarse and cold, not for a moment to be compared with
the hot juicy mouse meat that abounded in every meadow. The
foxes were well fed and unhungry. Why should they venture into
such evident danger? In a word, walls of stone could not have
more completely protected the ground and the meat from the foxes
than did the obvious nature of the traps; not a track was near,
and many afar showed how quickly they had veered off.
"Ugh, it is always so," said Quonab. "Will you try again? "
"Yes, I will, " replied Rolf, remembering now that he had omitted
to deodorize his traps and his boots.
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