What secret does the old hollow tree hide? Juan and his best friend, Johnny, find rocks that look like gold. Then, they discover the corner of an iron box poking up in the hollow tree. They hope it's a treasure chest pirates buried 300 years ago. After all, the boys live close to the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Pirates often hid their ships after looting merchant ships in the Atlantic Ocean. Boys age 9-12 who like mysteries and suspense will like this book. B&W illustrations. A bit of science and history give this fictional story an educational edge. A few Spanish words and phrases used.