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 found François' skeleton and those of his dog team under the cliff on the ice of the great river in the spring.

"I see," said Dick. "That was why old Silversheene went back to the wild. I could not understand it. He loves all humans who are kind to him. He is a great chum. I could not understand it."

"He is also a great sled dog. There is no finer in Alaska," said the old sourdough. "Why, Scotty Ellis even tried to buy him from Gene Gordet, but he would not sell."

At the name of Scotty Ellis, Dick's adventurous spirits again rose high.

"I met Scotty Ellis last winter," he said. "I saw him win the great Alaskan sweepstake. He is a wonderful man and a prince among dog mushers. I have always wanted to be in that race myself. I was the college champion Marathon runner in the United States."

"College Marathons and that four-hundred-and-twelve-mile struggle are two different things. As different as a gentle