Sixteen-year-old Reginald Trevena's heart pounds when his Uncle Herbert reveals new clues about a legendary fortune: the treasure of the Spanish galleon San Philipo, captured by their ancestor Captain Humphrey Trevena three centuries before. The family fortune has faded. The memory of that daring privateering feat has faded too. But the cipher remains. Now Reginald, his father, and his uncle set sail across dangerous waters to solve the puzzle their ancestor left behind, racing against ruthless rivals who want the same prize. They battle storms that shatter ships, outwit dangerous enemies, and dive into wreckages where fortunes sleep in the dark. Westerman delivers the particular thrill of watching a young hero prove himself against impossible odds, his family's honor resting on his courage. The novel captures that eternal childhood wonder: what would it feel like to uncover a fortune left by your own blood, centuries ago, waiting just for you? For readers who dream of hidden maps and buried secrets, this is vintage adventure at its most satisfying.
