148 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS GF CANAD 
materials ; but in order to use them with effect in killing 
deer, the sagacity of the hunter is often severely tested, 
for with the Eskimo there is no cover behind which to 
hide or creep upon his prey. The hunter’s first precau- 
tion is, of course, to keep the deer to windward, for the 
moment they catch the scent of an enemy they are off, 
and to get within range of the wary animals upon the 
open plains or rocky barrens is often. a difficult matter. 
A common way of working, when several hunters are 
together, is for some to take up positions in concealment, 
while the others drive the deer their way, causing them 
to pass within range of the deadly shafts. At a mode- 
rate distance an Eskimo with his ingeniously constructed - 
bow can drive an arrow its full length into a deer. 
Occasionally vast herds of deer, numbering many 
thousands, are met with, and at such times their 
numbers appear to give them confidence. The hunter 
then has no trouble in approaching them, but may go up 
and kill as many as he desires, either with bow and 
arrow or with spear. 
The spear, however, is chiefly used for killing deer in 
the water. At certain seasons of the year, when travel- 
ling north or south, the deer cross streams, rivers, or 
lakes in great numbers, and these crossings are com- 
monly effected year after year in the same place. The 
hunter, knowing their habits, lies in wait at the cross-_ 
ings, and often from his kyack spears large numbers as 
they are swimming past. 
When more deer are killed than are required for 
immediate use, the carcases are “cached,” that is, they 
are covered over by piles of stones to preserve them 
from the wolves and foxes, and the place of their burial 
