CHAPTER XXVIII 



THE RED SEA HILLS (continued) 



BESIDES ariel and ibex, we have among these hills the 

 Isabelline gazelle. Far less numerous than the ariel 

 indeed quite scarce at this season (March- April) 

 these little beauties were even wilder than their bigger 

 cousins. We had at first no hostile intent, and indeed 

 paid no attention to them ; yet the only acquaintance 

 they would vouchsafe was a vision of tiny tawny forms 

 skipping like hares over the rocks some half-mile ahead. 



I remember one morning when we (Lowe and I) 

 were patiently pursuing a troop of impossible ariel and 

 incidentally pushing forward three of these unconsidered 

 rock-jumpers. For hours the latter kept manoeuvring 

 on our front never within three gunshots. We were 

 paying them no sort of attention, and had ascended a 

 long rock-ridge that ran athwart our course. While 

 advancing, left-handed, along its broken crest, we per- 

 ceived, in a sudden dip, the trio halted and gazing 

 steadfastly backwards obviously expecting us on the 

 level below. Then I decided to seize the opportunity 

 and have a specimen of Isabella, but not even the telescope 

 availed to distinguish any difference in size or sex 

 between the three red specks amidst grey boulders. I 

 chanced it and fired at the central speck. The bullet, 

 striking at base of neck, practically decapitated an adult 

 female gazelle, with horns of si inches. 



It was noontide, and from the blistering heat we 

 sought shelter under an overhung rock while preparing 



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