Although Uncle Royal, native to the Matagamon region of Maine and a character, and his city-born nephew, Thomas Wellington III, are engaging and true-to-form, they are fictional. The rest of the folks who populate this book are or were real people. They lived, worked, and helped to mold the history and heritage of this wilderness region in northern Maine. These people are tough and hardy, independent and reliable, their lives woven into the land they worked and loved. Uncle Royal characterizes those who have lived and died in this region, their attitudes and lifestyles. Young Tom represents those who come into this land seeking an enjoyable experience without knowing its history or character.