again
in about half a second and she said, "He doesn't seem to be there," and
she raced all through the house hunting for him. In the kitchen she saw
that the lantern was gone and then she said: "I might have known he was up
to some mischief, he was so quiet. This is some more of Jim Leonard's
work. Henry, I want you to go right out and look for Pony. It's half-past
nine."

Then Pony's father knew that it would be no use to talk and he started
out. But the whole street was quiet, and all the houses were dark as if
the people had gone to bed. He went up town and to all the places where
the big boys were apt to play at night, and he found Hen Billard and Archy
Hawkins, but neither of them had seen Pony since school. They were both
sitting on Hen Billard's front steps, because Archy Hawkins was going to
stay all night with him, and they were telling stories. When Pony's father
asked about Pony and seemed anxious they tried to comfort him, but they
could not think where Pony could be. They said perhaps Jim Leonard would
know.

Then Pony's father went home, and the minute he opened the front door
Pony's mother called out: "Have you found him?"

His father said: "No. Hasn't he come in yet?" and he told her how he had
been looking everywhere, and she burst out crying.

"I know he's fallen into the canal and got drowned, or something," and she
wrung her hands together; and then he said that Hen Billard and Archy
Hawkins thought Jim Leonard would know, and he had only stopped to see
whether Pony had happened to come in, and he was going straight to Jim
Leonard's mother's house; and Pony's mother said: "Oh, go, go, go!" and
fairly pushed him out of the house.

By this time it was ten o'clock and going on eleven, and all the town was
as still as death, except the dogs. Pony's father kept on until he got
down to the river-bank, where Jim Leonard's mother lived, and he had to
knock and knock before he could make anybody hear. At last Jim Leonard's
mother poked her head out of the window and asked who was there, and
Pony's father told her.

He said: "Is Jim at home, Mrs. Leonard?" and she said:

"Yes, and fast asleep three hours ago. What makes you ask?"

Then he had to tell her. "We can't find Pony, and some of the boys thought
Jim might know where he is. I'm sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Leonard.
Good-night," and he went back home.

When he got there he found Pony's mother about crazy. He said now they
must search the hous