While he was occupied with those in front of him, others slipped up behind him, jabbed him in the back, or violently twitched the hair on his neck.

Tears of pain and rage stood in Paul's eyes, and he wheeled about, only to have the jeering throng wheel with him and continue their torture.

At last he caught one of them a half blow, and she reeled and fell.

The others shouted uproariously, and the warriors standing by joined in their mirth.
One of the hags finally struck Paul a resounding smack in the face, and as he turned to pursue her another from behind seized a wisp of hair and tried to tear it out by the roots.

Paul whirled in a frenzy, and so quickly that she could not escape him.