His wings began humming like a buzz-saw, his pincers opened until they could have taken in a man's finger, and he vibrated on his legs until it looked as though he might be performing some sort of a dance.

Neewa jerked his paw back and after a moment or two Chegawasse calmed himself and again began to ADVANCE! Neewa did not know, of course, that the beetle's field of vision ended about four inches from the end of his nose; the situation, consequently, was appalling.

But it was never born in a son of a father like Soominitik to run from a bug, even at nine weeks of age.
Desperately he thrust out his paw again, and unfortunately for him one of his tiny claws got a half Nelson on the beetle and held Chegawasse on his shining back so that he could neither buzz not click.

A great exultation swept through Neewa.

Inch by inch he drew his paw in until the beetle was within reach of his sharp little teeth.