"All right, child, don't fear. I won't hurt you, but tell me what you're doing out here on a bicycle at this time in the morning, but be quick because I'm in a hurry. Have you met anybody on your way? Seen anybody driving sheep along?"

"No, I haven't," Penny said soberly. "But do please tell me who you are."

"Name of Clancy," he said. "Farmed here all my life."

Penny nearly sobbed with relief and her voice was very shaky as she said, "That's marvellous. I remember Alan Denton saying that name... Mr Clancy, I've got some news for you. Let me get in with you, and if you go up the hill and about two miles farther on you'll come to a signpost and the others will be there... Oh! I should have asked you this first. Are all your sheep safe? If you have any, I mean. We've all come out to warn you..."

"Jump in beside me," Mr Clancy ordered. "Leave your cycle and I'll get it for you some time. Sounds crazy to me, but tell me what you know as we go... I've lost fifty sheep this night."

Penny did her best to explain as they rattled along the empty road, but she realized that her story was rather confused.

Mr Clancy grunted.

"I've had no sleep for three nights and reckon I must have dropped off for an hour or two to-night," he muttered, almost to himself. "They could do the trick with a lorry or van somewhere near, o' course. Well, young lady, I don't know what to make of your story, but I was on my way to pick up young Denton. Now here's the cross-roads, and by the looks of it there's some of your crazy friends too, so I reckon what you've told me is the truth."

Before Penny could answer he stopped the car as Tom and Jon stepped into the road in front of it.

Penny jumped out. "It's all right, Jon; it's me. And this is Mr Clancy, the farmer, and he's had fifty sheep stolen to-night... Where's David? Has anyone else been along?"

Jenny, who was leaning against the signpost, spoke up.

"No, Penny, nobody has come this way. You're the only one so far who has found anything."

Mr Clancy spoke again before Penny could answer. "I'm going down here to find young Denton. You say he knows all about you?"

"He does," Jon said. "We're all friends of his and we're trying to help him, and you, too, sir, if you'll let us... I think we've a clue over this sheep-stealing, but I agree that it is a good idea to try and find Mr Denton as well."

"I think he's coming now," Jenny said. "Or if it's not him it's Peter. I can hear horses... Oh, and here's David coming, too, and he looks out of breath and fed up."