When going at that rate it appeared natural to conclude that they would be less careful to pick and choose their road.
The theory proved so far correct that next day the upright was down, but the wire had snapped and the rabbit was gone.

The character of the fracture clearly indicated how it had happened: the rabbit, so soon as he found his head in the noose, had rolled and tumbled till the wire, already twisted tight, parted.

Too much twisting, therefore, weakened instead of strengthening.

Next a single wire, somewhat thicker, was used, and set up nearly in the same place; but it broke again.
Finally, two strands of medium size, placed side by side, but only twisted once--that is, just enough to keep them together--were employed.
The lesser loop--the slip-knot, as it might be called--was at the same time eased in order to run quicker and take a closer grip.

Experiments with the hand proved that this style of wire would bear a great strain, and immediately answered to a sudden jerk.