AN AFTERNOON WITH ARIEL AND IBEX 363 



the ariel, it seemed inexplicable that a big" troop should 

 now stand thus inert and careless, though in full view 

 and actually within long-range rifle-shot. Lowe suggested 

 that the animals were conscious of being half-invisible 

 protected by phantasmagoric effects. Possibly that was 

 so ; I did not dare myself to delve so deeply into animal- 

 perceptions. 



For several minutes till eyes ached we sat, drinking 



"As HE FELL" (Ariel). 



in this phenomenon through the spy-glass. Neither 

 horn nor hoof stirred the while. 



In that unreal atmospheric confusion it was impossible 

 to select ; so we advanced obliquely, to pass their flank 

 on our left. Still nothing stirred ; till we almost walked 

 into a single master-buck (that we had never seen) straight 

 ahead a real beauty. Leisurely he trotted back past our 

 position a sort of spook amidst spectral boulders and 

 presently, close by the main herd, relapsed into quiescence. 

 At 200 yards he appeared a translucent patch against 

 half-opaque rock. I must have covered his ghost-like 

 form with absolute accuracy ; for the buck dropped 



