Crossword Genius

Follow the steps shown (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

trail

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'follow' is the definition.
(trail can mean to follow in secret)

'the steps shown' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'rail' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for trail that I've seen before include "Beaten path; lag" , "Beaten path; track" , "Wake" , "Track made through wild country" , "Mark left where something has passed - follow it" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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