nonetheless , with his hand dangling in mid-air , circling like a predatory bird , he , with all his strength , pulled the looming appendage out of its failsafe position and into a steady dive in the direction of its target ; and with the fortifications of his doubt overcome by the force of his own fatigue , he committed himself fully and unquestionably to the objective of this pointed assault until he felt , under the force of his own thumb , the body of this six-legged diplomat being crushed mercilessly .