Front matter

Gay-Neck

Copyright, 1927 By E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY

All rights reserved

First Printing July, 1927

Fifth Printing Dec., 1927

Tenth Printing May, 1928

Fifteenth Printing Oct., 1928

Seventeenth Printing Jan., 1929

Eighteenth Printing June, 1929

Nineteenth Printing Nov., 1929

Twentieth Printing Nov., 1929

Printed in the United States of America

This book was awarded the John Newbery Medal by the Children's Librarians' Section of the American Library Association, for the most distinguished contribution to American Children's literature during the year 1927.

By the same author

CASTE AND OUTCAST MY BROTHER'S FACE THE SECRET LISTENERS OF THE EAST THE FACE OF SILENCE

Stories for Children

KARI THE ELEPHANT JUNGLE BEASTS AND MEN HARI THE JUNGLE LAD GAY-NECK (The Story of a Pigeon)

Published by E. P. DUTTON & CO., INC.

TO

Dear Suresh:

Since Gay-Neck needs a protector I thought of you for several reasons. First of all being a poet, an observer of nature, and a traveller, you would be able to protect the book from being condemned. In fact, there is no one who can do it as well as yourself.

You know the country where Gay-Neck grew. You are versed in the lore of birds. For a pigeon, life is a repetition of two incidents: namely, quest of food and avoidance of attacks by its enemies. If the hero of the present book repeats his escapes from attacks by hawks, it is because that is the sort of mishap that becomes chronic in the case of pigeons.

Now as to my sources, you well know that they are too numerous to be mentioned here. Many hunters, poets like yourself, and books in many languages have helped me to write Gay-Neck. And if you will permit it, I hope to discharge at least a part of my debt by dedicating this book to one of my sources—yourself.

I remain most faithfully yours, Dhan Gopal.