Book excerpt: 'Biddy, I'm sorry, we're going to have to leave her.' 'What?' Biddy struggled out of the quicksand. 'You can't leave her! The tide's coming in. She'll drown!' But the pony is trapped and Biddy is forced to go on without her. Next day the only signs of Bella are hoofprints in the sand with small footprints and the paw marks of a dog. Who could be so small and be alone on this remote beach? Biddy's search takes her into wild, secret country where she discovers the truth about a mysterious disappearance that happened many years ago. Alison Lester's picture books are loved by families all around the world. In this timeless Australian children's classic, she proves herself as a born storyteller.