The well-sinker returns to the other workers, who arch their backs, and the load progresses a finger's-breadth towards the point recognized as favourable.

Have they done the trick this time?
No, for after a while the Mouse recoils.

No progress towards a solution of the difficulty.
Now two males come out in search of information, each of his own accord.

Instead of stopping at the point already sounded, a point most judiciously chosen, it seemed, on account of its proximity, which would save laborious transportation, they precipitately scour the whole area of the cage, sounding the soil on this side and on that and ploughing superficial furrows in it.

They get as far from the brick as the limits of the enclosure permit.
They dig, by preference, against the base of the cover; here they make several borings, without any reason, so far as I can see, the bed of soil being everywhere equally assailable away from the brick; the first point sounded is abandoned for a second, which is rejected in its turn.
A third and a fourth are tried; then another and yet another.