298 CAMP-FIRES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 



be for the reason that it is useless to try. No doubt the 

 grizzlies fail to get them from the same cause that oper- 

 ated against me, — too many rocky ramifications per Pika. 



The only serious accident on our whole trip occurred 

 during our last day at Camp Necessity. A Little Chief 

 " Hare " was the victim, and Mr. Phillips was chief 

 mourner. 



On the last climb which was made by Mr. Phillips 

 and Mack Norboe, they expended much time and labor 

 in catching a Pika alive, " for the Zoo." They came into 

 camp fairly radiant over a* difficult task and a new 

 triumph, and at once placed in my hands the black leather 

 case of Mr. Phillips's new binocular. A small hole had 

 been drilled in the cover of it. 



"There, Director! We've brought you a new kind 

 of an animile, to take to New York. We've got Little 

 Mike in there! We worked nearly two hours to catch 

 him. When Mack grabbed him, he fought like a little 

 tiger, and bit Maxie through his glove. After we put 

 him in the box he chippered and scolded a long time; 

 but he's quieted down now." 



When I saw the smallness of the air-hole that had been 

 drilled for the animal through the thick leather, my mind 

 was filled with dread; and I hardly could muster up 

 courage to open the lid. But no time was lost on that 

 account. When I looked in, poor " Little Mike," as Mr. 

 Phillips called him, was curled up in the bottom, stone 

 dead. 



For several days Mr. Phillips was fairly racked by 

 regret and remorse. That small creature's death haunted 



