He grunted furiously, screwed his eyes up tight, tucked his muzzle down under his left arm--which was busy holding on--and reached around blindly for another pull.

This time he got a good grip, and he could feel something give.

But the fiery torture was too much for him.

He drew in his paw, crouched back into the crotch, and cuffed wildly at his own ears and face as well as at the air, now thick with his assailants.

The terrific hum they made somewhat daunted him.