Snow Treasure

“Up in the Arctic Circle where these children lived, it was winter for much of the year. Sleds and skis were used for travel for all but a few months. But accustomed as the people were to the long cold and the white stillness, the winter of 1940 surpassed anything even the oldest could remember.”

With this quotation, McSwigan further sets the scene; the lives of the Norwegians living in Riswyk are adapted around the extreme weather. Their ease with using sleds and skis foreshadows the gold-smuggling scheme, which will be introduced in subsequent chapters. Furthermore, the collusion of the weather in the Norwegian scheme is foreshadowed in the extreme and long-lasting winter of 1940. The continued snowfall allows the children to continue sledding, which is essential for the movement of the gold bars to Snake fiord. Environment as Ally is also introduced as an important theme.

“‘But why is he here?’ Peter pondered. ‘He never comes North until the ice is gone.’”

Peter Lundstrom’s carefree play with his friends suggests that the children are not yet concerned enough about the war raging in other parts of Europe. However, clues to the escalating situation are conveyed in the adults’ unusual and disrupted behavior. Victor Lundstrom’s early and unprecedented return hints at a disruption of the status quo caused by the war that is rapidly approaching Norway.

“When they told of seeing Uncle Victor, a strange thing happened. Their father pushed back his chair and jumped up from the table. Peter and Lovisa were surprised because they had never seen him leave a meal unfinished.”

Once again, McSwigan signals a disruption of normality through Peter and Lovisa Lundstrom’s surprise at their father’s uncharacteristic behavior. Lars Lundstrom understands that his brother, Victor, must have returned with some kind of information about the threat to Norway posed by the rapidly advancing Nazi army. Rising tension is created in these behaviors; in an instance of dramatic irony, the reader understands that the war is approaching before Peter does, who is the protagonist and the perspective through which the story is conveyed.

“Peter’s nearly thirteen. It’s Peter and the ones his age who can save our gold. I see it now. Why didn’t we think of it before? We’ve spent the night considering everything from reindeer sleds to tri-motor planes. And here we have the answer right under our noses- the children.”

Victor comes up with a plan on how to save the Norwegian gold they have stockpiled in Riswyk. Presumably, it has been brought to this small and distant town to safeguard it from the incoming Nazi invasion. This plan’s ingenuity rests on the fact that the children of Riswyk, apparently playing on their sleds and then building snowmen, will be overlooked by the Nazi occupiers. On the other hand, the mass movement of adults to a certain location would be viewed with more suspicion.

“‘Peter wants a chance to help his country, too. Don’t you, fellow?’ Peter nodded. He couldn’t trust his voice. ‘So you wouldn’t mind if you met an enemy - one that carried a gun?’ Peter was breathless. His eyes were bright. This was the way Uncle Victor lived! There was excitement wherever he was!”

Peter’s admiration of Uncle Victor is established; Uncle Victor is characterized as brave, daring, and clever for his creative scheme to utilize the children of Riswyk to transport the gold. Peter’s desire to be involved in something dangerous and adult is clear; throughout the novel, Peter will learn that true bravery involves persisting in spite of real and valid fear, rather than fearlessly throwing oneself toward danger.

“‘Later tonight you’ll be taken to a certain part of the woods. I want you to know just where it is and how to get there without me or anyone else showing you.’ ‘Yes, Father. I’ll watch. I think I can remember.’

‘I know you can, Peter. You’ve spent a lot of your life in the woods. I’m counting on your woods sense to help.’”

Peter’s affinity with the natural world around Riswyk is suggested in his father’s phrase “woods sense.” The theme of Environment as Ally is also apparent here; the Norwegian locals leverage their ability to navigate their way through the snowy woods to help them to safeguard the gold from the occupying Nazis.

“Today, however, other things have happened - foreign mine layers have been sighted off our coast.”

McSwigan obliquely refers to Operation Wilfred, a British naval operation whose goal was to plant mines off Norway’s coast to prevent the export of Swedish iron ore to Germany. Before the Nazi invasion of Norway, Britain felt that Norway’s neutrality was obstructive to their own cause, as Norway did not intervene in Germany’s acquisition of ore, which was being used to build weaponry. The events of the Nazi invasion of Norway, which happened sooner and far more rapidly than Britain had expected, caused Britain to abandon Operation Wilfred after only one minefield had been laid. The mines are a serious obstruction to the safety of Victor’s gold-smuggling scheme, and he must work with other Norwegian sailors to discover the location on the explosives in order to reach America safely.

“That was the night of April eighth. Throughout the country was the feeling of impending evil. It was as if some unknown terror would come out of the deep shadows.”

The night before the invasion of Norway, there is a feeling of impending terror and doom; the fear of the Norwegians foreshadows the incoming invasion and subsequent occupation of the Germans. Hundreds of thousands of Norwegian civilians and soldiers lost their lives between 1940—when Germany invaded Norway—and 1945, when the German surrender marked a withdrawal from Norway and a cessation of hostilities elsewhere in Europe.

“Four hours after that, German parachute troops landed in Norway, and through all the ports clear into the Arctic Circle, soldiers and marines poured out of merchant ships in the harbors. There were even grey-clad Nazi soldiers on the beach at Riswyk Fiord. It was Uncle Victor who brought the news in the morning. ‘On your sleds, children,’ he directed. ‘There’s not a day to lose.’”

Adhering to the historical facts, McSwigan emphasizes the sheer volume of the Nazi invasion and occupation; the verb “poured” emphasizes the large number of German troops deployed across Norway. The Norwegian and supporting British troops were quickly overwhelmed. Peter, his sister, and his friends’ role in helping the war effort is referred to; they are directed to begin in their resistance scheme of moving the gold.

“Remember, Peter, we’re Norwegians and we’re as much at home in the water as we are on land. This is our country and these are our waters and there’s no foreign power that can keep us from using what’s always belonged to us.”

The recurring theme Environment as Ally is indicated in this quotation; the Norwegian locals are established as being capable and proud amidst the harsh elements. Victor’s patriotic pride and confidence in his countryman’s success are conveyed in this speech to his nephew. The knowledge and skills of the Norwegians, developed for living in this challenging environment, allow the children to sneak the bullion under the noses of the Nazi soldiers on sleds, and for the sailors to discover the locations of the sea-mines to sail the gold to safety.

“‘I swear I’ll have my tongue pulled out. I’ll be tortured with a red-hot poker, and I’ll have my head on a pole before I say a single word,’ Michael spoke excitedly. ‘And I the same.’ Peter put back the sword.”

Peter and Michael clearly feel excited and emboldened by the drama of the situation and the importance of their role in assisting their country. This is characterized by their melodramatic act of swearing on the family’s sword. Their excitement at the inherent danger of the scheme and their hyperbolic declarations of loyalty both serve to illustrate their immaturity at this stage of the story. The children will soon feel real fear at being involved in the dangerous, adult plan. This will call on them to demonstrate real bravery, which will inspire maturity and composure in the children.

“Per Garson was racing around madly around and around on the skis. Old and bent, he was nevertheless skiing with the grace of an Olympic entrant. He swooped and sailed.”

McSwigan emphasizes how adept the Norwegian locals are with using skis and sleds; this is illustrated in the elderly Per Garson’s impressive skiing skills. These skills facilitate the town’s scheme to safeguard the gold bullion in the woods in a snow cave, and then transport it through the snow.

“The lookout was where Peter and Michael, Helga and Lovisa had seen Uncle Victor the day he had so strangely returned to Norway. But now, when the four companions reached that point, it was not to be the scene of a snow battle and all the fun that went with it. Instead, there was solemness and silence, and Lovisa’s blue eyes were round with fright.”

The children take in the sight of German soldiers and boats in the harbor and are struck with the gravity of their task. Bravery in the Face of Danger is indicated here as an important theme. Furthermore, the scene serves as a reminder of the children’s fun-filled snowball fight at this same site in the opening chapter; an intentional juxtaposition is created between the scenes to emphasize the disruption and fear that the Nazi occupation of Norway brought.

“It was Helga who made them brave again. ‘I’m not afraid of any goose step!’”

Helga is once again characterized as brave. She courageously calls her friends to action, telling them that she is not afraid of the intimidating collection of armed soldiers. This is impressive, given that Helga is a child and that the children are participating in a resistance scheme, which could result in severe punishment if they are discovered.

“He [Peter] raised his eyes from the snow. He was looking into the smiling face of a German infantry captain. ‘I turn my men aside.’ He spoke in Norwegian.

‘It is not right that we spoil your sledding. When I was a boy I liked nothing better than sledding.”

The children view the Germans as terrifying antagonists who might torture or shoot them; however, the German captain addresses Peter kindly when the boy almost crashes into the soldiers with his sled. This conversation characterizes the Nazi soldiers as diverse individuals—many of whom are kind—rather than a homogenous group. Furthermore, this exchange highlights the success of the scheme of using children on sleds to move the gold; the children are viewed as inherently innocent in their game, rather than a threat to the occupation.

“The new snow was a sparkling white sheet that spread over everything. The windows of the houses had shaggy white eyebrows and the doors were all but blocked up with dense woolly beards. The sunlight scattered handfuls of diamonds over the streets. In the yards were crystal prisms that showed every color of the rainbow where the sun touched the glittering white.”

Just as rain threatens to disrupt the gold sledding scheme, Riswyk is hit with an unseasonable spring blizzard that brings masses of fresh snow. The Riswyk locals are aided in their schemes by the unseasonable weather. The shaggy eyebrows and beard of the snowy houses further personify the weather as a helpful ally of the Norwegians. This connects to the recurring theme, Environment as Ally.

“‘Dumb stupid cattle, you Norwegians.’ The Commandant turned on his heel. ‘You deserve to lose your country. You’re too brainless to defend it.’

Dramatic irony occurs in this scene; the Commandant labels the Norwegians—who are outsmarting him by transporting gold right under his nose—as “brainless.” In fact, this situation emphasizes the ingenuity and composure of the Riswyk locals and highlights the German occupier’s “foolish” oversight. This scene also characterizes the Commandant as an intimidating and angry character, which foreshadows his tirade against Lovisa during the climactic scene, in which he almost discovers the hidden gold and insists that Peter should be imprisoned and punished merely for throwing a snowball at him.

“Cotton on the end of a toothpick made a good paint brush. Bunny Lundstrom had as thick a coat of spots as the leopard of his Noah’s Ark.”

Ingenuity and Resistance is further illustrated in the town’s fabrication of a measles-like disease in order to thwart the Commandant’s order that the children should return to school. Dr. Aker, inspired by Mrs. Lundstrom’s idea, paints red spots on children, which allows the children to remain available for the gold moving scheme. This also means that the children are intentionally avoided by the soldiers, further safeguarding the execution of the gold-smuggling scheme.

“Out of the dark pines just ahead shot a German soldier on skis.”

Peter sees a German soldier returning from Snake fiord. This turns out to be Jan Lasek, who is not a threat to the scheme. However, Peter does not know this at the time. In the minds of Peter, Mrs. Lundstrom, and Victor, Jan’s presence threatens the entire operation. A period of rising tension ensues, leading to the Commandant’s climactic almost-discovery of the gold underneath Lovisa’s snowman.

“The forest seemed to dance. Pines they thought rooted to the bank, now seemed to have no roots at all but were bobbing up and down with the rush of the current.”

In this quotation, the natural environment is also presented as an ally in Victor’s clever disguise of the Cleng Peerson. Parts of the forest are used to disguise the boat from German eyes, once again suggesting that the environment is allied with the local Norwegians, and intentionally antagonistic toward the invading German forces; Peter realizes that the boat is disguised to look as if it is part of the forest fringing the fiord. This camouflage also connects to the recurring theme, Ingenuity and Resistance; the Norwegians cleverly and cunningly outwit the Nazi soldiers to safeguard Norwegian wealth by disguising the boat on the beach of the Snake fiord.

“With his stick he slashed off the snowman’s head. It was as if he would do the same to Lovisa’s. Then he raised the stick and cut the snowman neatly in two. The upper part rolled beside the head. Only the haunches remained. “‘Down you go,’ he shouted in his rage. ‘Just the way all the people go who stand in our Fuehrer’s way.’”

The Commandant believes that he is demonstratively using the snowman to symbolize the Nazis’ annexation of Europe and the destruction of German enemies. In an instance of dramatic irony, the snowman, with its undiscovered gold beneath, actually symbolizes Norwegian Ingenuity and Resistance; unbeknownst to the Commandant, the snowmen allow the citizens of Riswyk to protect their gold from falling into German hands. His assumption that the snowman is innocuous illustrates the success and cleverness of the scheme to use children and children’s games as a disguise. The Commandant’s anger and violence are also showcased in this scene.

“‘In another minute he’ll stub his toe against the bricks,’ Peter thought. Then he gathered up a handful of snow. He rolled it into a hard ball. Then he stood back and took aim. It landed exactly on the Commandant’s right ear.”

The moment of climax occurs when Peter throws the snowball at the Commandant. This is a courageous act. The theme of Bravery in the Face of Danger is signaled; Peter demonstrates genuine bravery to safeguard his country’s wealth. Furthermore, the scene recalls earlier instances in the exposition when Peter has snowball fights with his friends. This scene mirrors that earlier action, but in a far higher-stakes moment; he no longer uses snowballs in play, but to distract a soldier from uncovering their resistance movement. As well as his obvious bravery, Peter’s growing maturity is implied.

“So Peter was going to America! He was going to see New York and go to Pittsburgh with Jan Lasek and then travel to Minnesota where his uncle was a professor in St. Olaf’s College in North-field.”

Peter, who always aspired to be adventurous like Uncle Victor, is able to live out his dream, traveling to America aboard the Cleng Peerson. An exciting life of opportunity is alluded to in his plans to travel to various locations. Poetic justice is achieved; Peter is rewarded for his maturity, bravery, and composure; he proves himself worthy of the lifestyle he aspired toward. Furthermore, America is depicted as the epitome of freedom, learning, and excitement.