friendly smile.

"Hello!" he said, with a smile that stopped short of his eyes.

"Mr. Clegg? I apologize for any inconvenience but could I have a look at one of your ponies?"

"No trouble," said Mr. Clegg, still smiling, "Which ones do you want to see?"

"There's a tan one, over in that paddock," said Shara, pointing.

But when she looked she had to gasp because the paddock was bare.

"It was over there!" she said, "I saw it!"

Peter frowned thoughtfully.

"Have you moved any ponies from that paddock today?" he asked.

"No," said Mr. Clegg, "It's been empty since yesterday."

"This girl here says there were two ponies in it not quite one hour ago. She was here, looking at them."

"Oh, those two!" said Mr. Clegg, "She's got her paddocks mixed up. The two tan ones she was looking at are in with that herd over there. I caught her poking around here you know, while I was out. I don't like kids walking all over my place without permission."

Shara looked at the group of ten or so ponies. She knew the tan one wouldn't be there. Mr. Clegg was a liar. Even when she and Peter went closer to the ponies and inspected them one by one, she knew she wouldn't find the pony she wanted to find. She noticed Mr. Clegg, leaning on the gate, watching. His eyes were laughing at her.

"Its not here," she said.

"Are you sure you saw it?" asked Peter.

"Yes."

"Its not here now."

"I know."

"So where is it?"

"I don't know! Maybe Mr. Clegg has hidden it somewhere!"