According to the Preface,"The following story is founded on fact, everybody about this part of Canada who is not deaf having heard of the gang at Markham Swamp. I have no doubt that some of my friends who are in the habit of considering themselves "literary," will speak with despair and disparagement of myself when they read the title of this book. They will call it "blood and thunder," and will see that I am on my way to the dogs."