Some unconventional spelling is used in this book to impart an authentic cowboy feel to the narrative. The author rode with various cowhands, prospectors and other bush folk who spoke as Annie, Spud, Wolf, Mose, Sir Jacob and the other characters do. Wolf’s Injin speak is his own.
Cowboys are fond of colorful and obscure language. It is a source of humor and a sign of their unique culture. Their stories are passed back and forth, repeated over and over during the long hours on the trail and around the campfire. Accents are accentuated, especially in front of dudes and tales get taller with the telling. Jokes and pranks are another form of entertainment, often pulled on unwitting comrades. All in good fun.
At the back of these two books is a guide to the more unusual vernacular terms:
Remember
“Once you realize that the road is the goal
and that you are always on the road,
not to reach a goal,
but to enjoy its beauty and its wisdom,
life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple,
in itself an ecstasy.”
-Nisargadatta Maharaj
Introduction
Cowgirl Thrillers Page 50