Five Go Camping (5/5)
It was a horse. A large shire horse with a strange-shaped hat and a neckerchief,
skulking along the hedgerow.
The ponies hid behind a tree. They peeped out at the menacing figure.
"Ooh, I'm scared", whispered Baby Bowtie. "There are shivers
going up and down my spine!"
Suddenly, Brandy ran out and leapt up at the large horse.
"Oh no! Bad Brandy! Come back!", cried Baby Applejack.
"You cheeky varmint!" growled the horse, pushing Brandy aside.
"Leave my dog alone!" cried Applejack, running out from behind
the tree. "You big, big..... BULLY!"
"Now then, you young scallywag," said the big pony gruffly.
"Where're you off to in such a hurry?" And he caught her by
the scruff of her mane.
"Eeek!" she cried.
"Hey you! Take your hands off her!" cried the boys, running
at him.
"Applejack!" cried Bowtie, flinging herself at her friend.
"Ho, ho, ho." A deep throaty laugh rippled across the shire
horse's chest. "Not so fast, my young treasure hunters."
Baby Paws looked startled. "You know about the treasure?"
"Of course," the horse said. "It's mine! I'm Barnacle.
A friend of your Uncle Ice Crystal, if I'm not mistaken."
"Oh." The ponies sat in stunned silence.
"And what's this? My treasure map?" he laughed, taking the
piece of paper from Baby Drummer. "I've been looking all over for
this. My good friend Salty sent it to me after he hid the ribbons."
"Ribbons?" inquired Baby Bowtie, her ears pricking up.
"Yes, ribbons. For Paradise. It's her birthday tomorrow. Salty shipped
in some special ones from Italy for me. He hid them because you know now
excited Paradise gets about her birthday. She'll do anything to find her
presents early."
And with that, he pushed aside a bramble patch and revealed a chest filled
wth brightly coloured ribbons.
"Ooooh," the ponies gasped. The ribbons, in every colour of
the rainbow, sparkled in the sun.
Barnacle continued. "I've planned a surprise birthday-eve supper
tonight. Perhaps you'd like to come?"
"Ooh, yes please!" the ponies cries. "Woof woof!"
barked Brandy.
"Well, if you help me carry the ribbons to the house, then you can."
********************
That evening, the little ponies scrubbed themselves clean and dressed
up in their smartest clothes. They helped Surprise set the table and light
the candles on the cake.
Cotton Candy had been busy all day preparing platefuls of salads, savoury
pies and treats. Applejack had selected some fresh fruits, and Posey had
picked some beautiful scented flowers from her garden.
And what did the ponies drink?
"Lashings and lashings of ginger beer!" cried the four intrepid
treasure-seeking ponies!
THE END
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