I wonder how they came to be here ?" All the way along the passage they found this trail of jewels, but when they neared the end the mystery was explained.

For there, squatted upon the floor with his back to the rock wall, sat old Ruggedo, puffing and blowing as if he was all tired out.

Then they realized it was he who had scattered the jewels, from his many pockets, which one by one had burst with the weight of their contents as he had stumbled along the passage.
"But I don't mind," said Ruggedo, with a deep sigh.

"I now realize that I could not have carried such a weighty load very far, even had I managed to escape from this passage with it.

The woman who sewed the pockets on my robe used poor thread, for which I shall thank her." "Have you any jewels left ?" inquired Betsy.
He glanced into some of the remaining pockets.
"A few," said he, "but they will be sufficient to supply my wants, and I no longer have any desire to be rich.