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 
