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 pleasant voice and a fascinating smile. He was not the brute type of driver, but made it a point to understand his dogs and to drive them by appealing to their good will. He was an inordinate lover of dogs. If Scotty Ellis was the most famous of dog mushers, the most famous dog at this time was Baldy of Nome, who had helped Ellis win the great sweepstake for seven consecutive years, preceding the time when Richard Henderson entered the race.

The purse for which the race was run was fifteen thousand dollars (the first prize being ten thousand), but it is safe to say that fifty times as much money changed hands each year in betting. Not only did each of the drivers usually put up considerable money, but outsiders often bet claims and mines in addition to their bags of hardearned yellow gold. Although he had won the prize for seven consecutive years, yet Scotty Ellis was still the favorite in the betting. Next to him ranked Yukon Harry. He had a fine team of Malemutes.