He never really entered the dip.

Why?
When he stood at the edge his acute and delicate senses told him no meat was left on the bones, and a wolf neither makes idle exertion, nor takes foolish risk.

He went back at once.

And if the wolf had not come, there is another reason why I knew the Great Bear ate all the goose.

He would not have thrown away any of the bones with flesh still on them.