Peter Lundstrom, the novel’s protagonist, is 12 years old—soon to be 13. He lives with his family—including his parents, his sister Lovisa, and the elderly family servant, Per Garson, in a small house in Riswyk, a fictional town in the Arctic Circle in northern Norway. Peter aspires to be like his brave and adventurous uncle Victor, who is a fisherman. He is thrilled to be involved in Uncle Victor’s scheme to smuggle Norwegian gold bullion to safety by transporting it on sleds to the Snake fiord, where it will be taken by Uncle Victor onto his ship, the Cleng Peerson. Peter’s excitement at being included in this adult scheme is evident throughout the narration, and he is proud to be made president of the Defense Club and dedicates considerable effort to organizing the other children’s participation in the scheme.

Despite his initial excitement and tendency to romanticize his own role, Peter’s involvement in the plan becomes far more terrifyingly real when he first encounters Nazi soldiers while carrying the gold on his sled. Yet despite his fear-driven wish for “Helga to take the lead” (53), he does learn to show a more mature version of bravery. He learns that real bravery isn’t boldly declaring, “I swear I’ll have my tongue pulled out.