As he was a long way from home, and the pot was very big and heavy, he decided to hide it until morning and then get one of his sons to go with him and help him carry it.

So he hid it under the boughs of the sleeping poplar tree.
"When Iris came back she missed the pot of gold and of course she was in a sad way about it.

She sent Mercury, the messenger of the gods, to look for it, for she didn't dare leave the rainbow again, lest somebody should run off with that too.

Mercury asked all the trees if they had seen the pot of gold, and the elm, oak and pine pointed to the poplar and said, "'The poplar can tell you where it is.' "'How can I tell you where it is ?' cried the poplar, and she held up all her branches in surprise, just as we hold up our hands--and down tumbled the pot of gold.

The poplar was amazed and indignant, for she was a very honest tree.