Puzzlemasters - Rusty Compass's Puzzle

Ahoy there, curious clue-hunters! Rusty Compass here - adventurer extraordinaire, accidental hoarder, and part-time coconut juggler.

Some years back (give or take a Tuesday), I stumbled across a very rare, very shiny object - the Deep-Down Sparkly Thing. What is it, you ask? That, I honestly can’t remember - but I do remember it sparkled something lovely and made a noise like a kazoo in a biscuit tin. So, obviously... priceless.

Naturally, I buried it. Deep. Really deep. Deeper-than-a-soggy-trouser-pocket deep. Why? Because I was being followed by treasure snatchers, that's why. And because I’d run out of jars to hide things in.

To throw any would-be diggers off the scent, I scattered dozens of misleading items around the island - teapots, hats, spoons, inflatable badgers… you name it. Every explorer I know has been digging holes all over ever since - but only one square hides the real thing.

Lucky for you, I left behind a series of clues to help narrow it down. Use your brain, eliminate the red herrings, and dig once - dig wisely. The Sparkly Thing is still down there somewhere… just waiting to be found.

Time to prove you've got what it takes to outwit a very forgetful explorer.

Happy hunting!
Rusty Compass
Master Explorer
“X marks the spot - but only after you’ve ruled out the Y, Z and probably the U.”

There are 25 squares on the map. There are 24 riddles below.

Solve each riddle to match it to an item in one of the grid squares.

The item you don’t eliminate marks the square you need to dig in!

1. I begin and end with E, but only have one letter in me.

2. I rise in the east and set in the west, bringing light and warmth to all the rest.

3. I have a palm but I’m not a tree. I have five nails but please don’t hammer me!

4. I’m a suit with no jacket, no arms and no tie. I’m black and leafy but don’t grow high.

5. I fall from the sky but I’m not rain. I’m cool and unique, no two the same.

6. I make things bigger but you don’t eat me. I’m missing from ‘one two is three’.

7. My hands move but I stand still. I have many numbers but never nil.

8. With a waft of my feet, off I go. My babies follow in a row.

9. You drop me to stop but pull me in to go. I keep things still when tides do flow.

10. I make things bigger, when you look. I can help you read a tiny book.

11. Turn me left or turn me right. Keep me still when docked at night. 

12. Put me in the garden, put me in a room, give me light and water, sit back and watch me bloom.

13. I’m not clever, but I’m bright. I only show myself at night.

14. I open like a giant dome but close again when you get home.

15. When I’m on you tap your toes, and when I’m good, any move goes!

16. I have wings but no eyes and I soar through the skies.

17. I have a mane, I have a tail. I also have shoes fixed on with nails!

18. Using me is a piece of cake. Just hit me when you need a break. 

19. I have lots of rings but no fingers to see. I ask you no questions but you still answer me.

20. I’m sometimes waved, I’m sometimes flown. If I tear I can be sewn.

21. I get kicked all day but never shout. I roll around while fans all shout!

22. You make me at certain times of year, and when it gets warm I disappear.

23. My blades are sharp but I’m no knife. I help you glide through winter life.

24. Use me on paper and fabric and hair. I am one thing but I come as a pair.

Submit your answer to find out if you were right. Once you've submitted an answer to all three puzzles, we'll ask you to vote for your favourite!