In writing a story about a group of people who are essentially homeless and who reject many of society's values and laws, Hunter explores a number of social issues. She clearly sympathizes with the travellers, usually presenting their antagonists as narrow-minded, irrational bigots. While Sergeant McKendrick, Constable Miller, and the "yobbos," Yellowhead and Hairychest, seem like stereotypical villains, the travellers are more developed and demonstrate both strengths and weaknesses. For example, Daddler Drummond abuses his wife, a major issue facing Cat when she contemplates marrying his son.

The travellers do have little compunction about breaking laws, particularly those relating to poaching, since they believe that no human can really own the land. Hunter allows Cat to question her father's activities, but allows him to explain his own point of view. In general, the book presents the travellers as realistic people with strong family ties, suggesting that...