Snow Treasure

The children are relieved that the Nazis let them pass and do not discover their ruse. They continue toward the Snake, a smaller, further fiord that lies beyond the fiord above which they are currently standing. To do this, they must pass groups of armed, marching sentries. Peter is worried that the sentries will stop to check their sleds, but the men do not comment on the children’s progress.

They finally reach the clearing in front of the Snake’s beach, exhausted from pulling the heavy sleds. They locate the two logs, and all of the children dig holes and bury the bars of gold, building snowmen to mark the location of the hidden treasure. Elated by their success, they laugh together at the fact that a Nazi led his soldiers away to allow them to continue sledding. (An accompanying illustration depicts the children building snowmen in the snow.)

There is no sign of Victor’s boat in Snake fiord. The friendly German captain passes them again and comments again on the children’s sledding, but Peter ignores him as Victor instructed.

The children go to the Holms’ farm, which is three miles from the Snake fiord beach. They are given a hearty supper, and the family laughs when the children tell the story of the polite German captain moving his soldiers aside so that they might play.