"How much would you give for it, Senor Sebastian," inquired Jim, "if it were put up for purchase?"
"It is a beautiful saddle. I would be willing to give a hundred dollars. It is worth it."
"That saddle is worth several thousand, Senor," replied Jim confidently.
"I do not understand," replied the Spaniard. "It is the personal value, I suppose."
"I will show you," said Jim.
Then he took from his hip pocket a heavy bone handled knife which he had bought at the store and pulled back the hoof cleaner, an instrument attached to the knife that was used to get a pebble or anything that had got into the horse's hoof.
With this he worked at the leather that covered the high and rather thick horn of the saddle. Finally he pried the top leather flap off. There was a heavy piece fitted into the top of the horn. With some difficulty Jim got this out disclosing a hollow, in which was concealed most of the jewels he had found in Mexico.
"Hold your hands, Jo. Tight now." And with the word he emptied the contents of the horn into Jo's palms. Diamonds, rubies, turquoises and some heavy gold pieces.
"That is what you might call a horn of plenty," said Jim jocosely.
"But!" cried the Spaniard in amazement, "where did you get these?"