What surprise it does Billy fine when his father and the judge push the hollow box elder down?

In "The River," Billy is surprised to find that the hollow box elder contains a hidden treasure: a small stash of money that his father and the judge had kept secret. This revelation highlights the complexities of adult decisions and the underlying motivations that often go unnoticed by children. Billy's realization signifies a loss of innocence as he grApples with the implications of this discovery. The moment serves as a pivotal point in his understanding of trust and the adult world.