“I shall get it to-day,” said Finn. “I’ll run home now and get my spade. But I’d better mark the weed, I think.”
“That would be a good plan,” said the Shoemaker. “Here I have a bit of bright red string in my pocket. Let us tie it around the stem near the top.”
How deftly the elfin fingers tied the mark!
“Thank you very kindly,” said Finn.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?” asked Leprechaun.
“You will promise not to touch the string?”
“I promise not to touch it, sir. Also I assure you no one else shall touch it,” said Leprechaun.
“Well, then, you may go. Here is your red cap. I thank you very much for your kindness. Good day!” said Finn pleasantly.
“Good day, sir,” said the Fairy Shoemaker, and off he scampered, chuckling to himself.
You may be sure Finn hurried away to fetch his spade. How surprised Granny would be to hear that he had caught the Fairy Shoemaker. He would not tell her until he carried home the treasure. In breathless haste he got his spade and hurried back to the field of ragweed. Then Finn stood still and looked! A bit of bright red string was tied around every ragweed in the field! The Fairy Shoemaker had tricked him again! He thought he heard a low chuckling laugh. Finn listened carefully. From among the weeds he heard a faint voice singing,