E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 23541-h.htm or 23541-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/5/4/23541/23541-h/23541-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/5/4/23541/23541-h.zip) DICK, MARJORIE AND FIDGE A Search for the Wonderful Dodo by G. E. FARROW Author of Adventures in Wallypug Land With Many Illustrations by Allan Wright [Illustration: The skipper found the poor bird looking the picture of misery. "Hope you're feeling better, sir," he said.--Page 132. _Dick, Marjorie and Fidge_.] A. L. Burt, Publisher, 52-58 Duane Street, New York TO MY DEAR LITTLE FRIENDS. Here is another book! I hope it will be as fortunate in pleasing you, as the others seem to have been, if I may judge from the many kind and gratifying letters which have reached me from boys and girls, of all ages and sizes, and from all parts of the world. And in connection with these letters, which I always try (though the pleasurable task grows heavier year by year) to answer myself, I have had the misfortune to lose a large packet of unanswered ones; so if any of my little correspondents have written to me during the past year, and have not received a reply, will he or she write to me again, and give me an opportunity of repairing the omission? I am getting quite proud of my gallery of photographs, which my little friends have sent me, and which, I think, please me almost more than anything else, if I may except a beautiful Persian kitten which has come as a present from a little girl at Hereford, and which is a prime favorite with every one here, including Dick, my little terrier, who--although he ought to know better at his age, being over eight--"galumphs" about in an absurdly clumsy manner, under the mistaken impression that he is playing with it. He only succeeds, however, in making himself ridiculous in the eyes of the kitten, who, despite his years, treats him with little or no respect, and does not hesitate to box his ears, and bite his tail whenever it feels so disposed. But I see my space is nearly exhausted, so must conclude, with very best wishes, and hoping to hear again from all of my old friends, and as many new ones as care to write. Believe me, Your affectionate friend, THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE