The Leprechaun Trap

The Leprechaun Trap

by Bill Colrus

Ireland is an island country in the northern Atlantic Ocean.
In Irish folklore, leprechauns are small, elf-like creatures
known for causing mischief and collecting gold. In this
story, a man named Michael hopes to outsmart two
leprechaun brothers.

As you read, take notes on the words that Daniel says to
Michael throughout the story.

Michael O’Connor was a thief, and proud of it. “There’s no
one in Ireland cleverer than I am,” he declared. “Why,
taking gold from the foolish is as easy as plucking apples
from a tree. There are days when I think I could outwit
even the leprechauns.” Michael had long believed that
cleverness was better than hard work and honesty, and he
smiled as he touched the two gold coins in his pocket.

At that moment, he heard someone coming along the path
behind him. He sneaked into the trees, then parted the
leaves to see what luck would bring. His eyes widened, for
there, striding along as if he owned the world, was a
leprechaun!

Leaping out, Michael grabbed the wee man by the back of
his jacket.

“Now I’ve got you!” he shouted.

“And I’ll not let you go until you’ve given me your gold —
and your name,” he added, for he knew that a leprechaun’s
name was his bond.

The leprechaun hung there, pitiful and powerless. “Name is
Daniel,” he squeaked as Michael tightened his grip. “And all right,
I’ll give you what gold I have, only let me go.”

“I’ll not release you until I see the gold,” Michael said prudently.

With a sad wave of the leprechaun’s hand, a tiny pot appeared
nearby.

Michael O’Connor dropped his captive, seized the crock, then
frowned when he saw only three gold coins inside.

“What’s this?” Michael asked. “Is this all the gold you have?”
Daniel sighed. “Aye, and I’m lucky to have even that. My brother
Liam’s the clever one. He has a mountain of gold coins, and is always
bragging how nobody can outwit him. Now he’ll laugh at
me for having been outwitted myself.” Michael’s eyes sparkled “You
say Liam has gold?” he asked. “Aye,” Daniel replied. “And he’s always
coming home with more that he’s tricked from one person or another.
How he laughs at me and my three coins!” At that, Michael grinned.
“It seems you’re a small fish and there’s a bigger one in the pond,” he
said. “I’ll throw you back if you help me teach your brother a lesson.”

Daniel frowned. “It would be nice if this time I were the clever one,” he
said slowly. “All right. I’ll teach you how to build a leprechaun trap,”
he declared, “and see how my brother deals with that!” So the pact
was made, and they hurried to Michael’s cottage. Under Daniel’s
direction, Michael built a wooden trap with a door that would snap
shut when something entered and with sturdy walls that offered no
escape. Now all they needed was bait. Daniel suggested shamrocks.
“Leprechauns love them,” he insisted. They hurried to a nearby
meadow where Michael fell to his knees in the hot afternoon sun to
scout about for shamrocks. “I’d help you,” Daniel shouted from the
shade of a nearby tree, “only I would never be able to resist the things
myself. Best I just stay here.”

Finally, red and sweating, Michael clutched in his hand four
drooping shamrocks. These he placed in the trap, and Michael and
Daniel settled down to wait the night away. The next morning the
trap was sprung, but when Michael eagerly pried it open he found
only a rabbit, which hopped away. The shamrocks had been eaten.
“Too bad,” Daniel said. “You’d best take my wee pot of gold, and
I’ll be on my way. No need to tell you more leprechaun secrets or let
on about better bait.” “Better bait?” Michael picked up the
leprechaun and said, “Tell me more, or you’ll wish you did.” Daniel
sagged in his hands. “Rainbows,” he admitted. “Leprechauns love
rainbows. Why do you suppose we hide pots of gold at the ends of
them?”

“And where would I get a rainbow to toss into the trap?” Michael
bellowed. “Easy,” the leprechaun replied. “On a sunny day like
today you’ll find a beautiful rainbow in the waterfall just down the
river from here. It’s one of my brother’s favorite spots.” Michael
draped the trap out of the bushes, then hauled the heavy thing half
a mile to the waterfall, Daniel riding on top and giving directions.
Michael was scratched, hot, and exhausted by the time they arrived,
but he didn’t care once he saw the rainbow dancing in the waterfall.
“Just set the trap out under the falls,” Daniel advised. “I’ll tell you
where. With luck, Liam’s gold will be yours before noon!”

Michael dragged the trap into the river. At first the cool water felt
wonderful, but soon he was frozen through. He thought of the gold,
however, and refused to quit. When the trap was finally set, Michael
stumbled, half-drowned, back to the warm rock where the
leprechaun was dipping his toes in the water. Michael flopped down
and fell into a shivering doze. He awoke to Daniel’s shout. “You’ve
caught something!” Back into the freezing water went Michael
O’Connor. He retrieved the trap, but when he upended it on the
bank, three trout tumbled out and wriggled past his feet into the
river again. Michael scowled. “I should just take your gold and be
done with the matter.”

“Isn’t that what I’ve been saying all along?” Daniel agreed. “Settle
for my three coins. It’s not your fault if Liam’s cleverer than you
are.” At this, Michael’s eyes flashed. “Nobody’s cleverer than I
am,” he declared. “I just need the right bait.” He glared at Daniel.
“Well, gold’s the best bait,” Daniel said hesitantly, “but I didn’t
think you’d want to use it.” “No problem,” Michael replied. “I’ll
just use your pot of gold.” “You can use it, but it won’t tempt
Liam,” Daniel said. “If it did, he’d have already tricked me
out of it. To trap my brother you’d need much more gold. That’s
why I didn’t suggest it before.”

This stopped Michael, but only for a moment. Then he pulled the
two gold coins from his pocket. “Would these help?” he asked.
“It’s better,” Daniel admitted, “but Liam has a mountain of gold. It
would take more than five coins to interest him.” Michael hurried
home and dragged out the small chest where he kept all of his
ill-gotten gains. He hauled it to the river and opened it in front of
Daniel. “Will this do?” he panted. “Ah, there’s a glorious sight,”
Daniel declared. “Add that to the rest, and it’s sure to fetch Liam.”

Michael O’Connor placed the gold in the trap and settled down to
wait. But after an afternoon in the hot sun, a night on the stony
ground, and a morning in the river, he was worn out. First
his head nodded, then it sagged, then he fell asleep entirely.
A small voice came out of a nearby bush. “It’s a grand trap you
have there, Daniel.” “Aye, Liam. The man’s a dab hand at making a
trap. It’s a fine one indeed.” “No better than our own,” Liam
replied with a grin. An hour later Michael’s eyes fluttered open. He
looked around in bewilderment.The leprechaun was gone, and all
the gold as well. For, indeed, it had been a fine leprechaun trap.