The man, in a spurt of fear-driven rage, grabbed at the invisible object.

His fingers slipped along the smooth sides of the bewitched bag that Lad was shoving invitingly at him.
Brief as was the contact, it was long enough for the thief's sensitive finger tips to recognize what they touched.

And both hands were brought suddenly into play, in a mad snatch for the prize.

The ten avid fingers missed the bag; and came together with clawing force.

But, before they met, the finger tips of the left hand telegraphed to the man's brain that they had had momentary light experience with something hairy and warm,--something that had slipped, eel-like, past them into the night;--something that most assuredly was no satchel, but ALIVE! The man's throat contracted, in gagging fright.