theTHEmost

MOSTdangerous
DANGEROUSgame
by Richard Connell
GAME
"Off there to the right–somewhere–is a large Even Captain Nielsen—"
island," said Whitney. "It's rather a mystery—" "Yes, even that tough-minded old Swede,
"What island is it?" Rainsford asked. who'd go up to the devil himself and ask him for
"The old charts call it 'Ship-Trap Island,'" a light. Those fishy blue eyes held a look I never
Whitney replied. "A suggestive name, isn't it? saw there before. All I could get out of him was:
Sailors have a curious dread of the place. I don't 'This place has an evil name among sea-faring
know why. Some superstition—" men, sir.' Then he said to me, very gravely: 'Don't
"Can't see it," remarked Rainsford, trying to you feel anything?'—as if the air about us was
peer through the dank tropical night that was actually poisonous. Now, you mustn't laugh
palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness when I tell you this–I did feel something like a
in upon the yacht. sudden chill.
"You've good eyes," said Whitney, with a "There was no breeze. The sea was as flat as
laugh, "and I've seen you pick off a moose a plate-glass window. We were drawing near
moving in the brown fall bush at four hundred the island then. What I felt was a–a mental chill;
yards, but even you can't see four miles or so a sort of sudden dread."
through a moonless Caribbean night." "Pure imagination," said Rainsford. "One
"Nor four yards," admitted Rainsford. "Ugh! superstitious sailor can taint the whole ship's
It's like moist black velvet." company with his fear."
"It will be light enough in Rio," promised "Maybe. But sometimes I think sailors have
Whitney. "We should make it in a few days. I an extra sense that tells them when they are
hope the jaguar guns have come from Purdey's. in danger. Sometimes I think evil is a tangible
We should have some good hunting up the thing–with wave lengths, just as sound and
Amazon. Great sport, hunting." light have. An evil place can, so to speak,
"The best sport in the world," agreed broadcast vibrations of evil. Anyhow, I'm glad
Rainsford. we're getting out of this zone. Well, I think I'll
"For the hunter," amended Whitney. "Not for turn in now, Rainsford."
the jaguar." "I'm not sleepy," said Rainsford. "I'm going to
"Don't talk rot, Whitney," said Rainsford. smoke another pipe up on the after deck."
"You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. "Good-night, then, Rainsford. See you at
Who cares how a jaguar feels?" breakfast."
"Perhaps the jaguar does," observed Whitney. "Right. Good-night, Whitney."
"Bah! They've no understanding." There was no sound in the night as Rainsford
"Even so, I rather think they understand one sat there but the muffled throb of the engine
thing—fear. The fear of pain and the fear of that drove the yacht swiftly through the
death." darkness, and the swish and ripple of the wash
"Nonsense," laughed Rainsford. "This hot of the propeller.
weather is making you soft, Whitney. Be a Rainsford, reclining in a steamer chair,
realist. The world is made up of two classes— indolently puffed on his favourite brier. The
the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and sensuous drowsiness of the night was on him.
I are hunters. Do you think we've passed that "It's so dark," he thought, "that I could sleep
island yet?" without closing my eyes; the night would be
"I can't tell in the dark. I hope so." my eyelids—"
"Why?" asked Rainsford. An abrupt sound startled him. Off to the
"The place has a reputation—a bad one." right he heard it, and his ears, expert in such
"Cannibals?" suggested Rainsford. matters, could not be mistaken. Again he heard
"Hardly. Even cannibals wouldn't live in such the sound, and again. Somewhere, off in the
a God-forsaken place. But it's gotten into sailor blackness, someone had fired a gun three
lore, somehow. Didn't you notice that the crew's times.
nerves seemed a bit jumpy to-day?" Rainsford sprang up and moved quickly to
"They were a bit strange, now you mention it. the rail, mystified. He strained his eyes in the
1
direction from which the reports had come, opaqueness; he forced himself upward, hand
but it was like trying to see through a blanket. over hand. Gasping, his hands raw, he reached
He leaped upon the rail and balanced himself a flat place at the top. Dense jungle came
there, to get greater elevation; his pipe, striking down to the very edge of the cliffs. What perils
a rope, was knocked from his mouth. He lunged that tangle of trees and underbrush might hold
for it; a short, hoarse cry came from his lips as for him did not concern Rainsford just then. All
he realized he had reached too far and had lost he knew was that he was safe from his enemy,
his balance. The cry was pinched off short as the sea, and that utter weariness was on him.
the blood-warm waters of the Caribbean Sea He flung himself down at the jungle edge and
closed over his head. tumbled headlong into the deepest sleep of
He struggled up to the surface and tried to his life.
cry out, but the wash from the speeding yacht When he opened his eyes he knew from
slapped him in the face and the salt water in the position of the sun that it was late in the
his open mouth made him gag and strangle. afternoon. Sleep had given him new vigour; a
Desperately he struck out with strong strokes sharp hunger was picking at him. He looked
after the receding lights of the yacht, but he about him, almost cheerfully.
stopped before he had swum fifty feet. A certain "Where there are pistol shots, there are
cool-headedness had come to him; it was not men. Where there are men, there is food," he
the first time he had been in a tight place. thought. But what kind of men, he wondered,
There was a chance that his cries could be in so forbidding a place? An unbroken front of
heard by someone aboard the yacht, but that snarled and ragged jungle fringed the shore.
chance was slender, and grew more slender He saw no sign of a trail through the closely
as the yacht raced on. He wrestled himself out knit web of weeds and trees; it was easier to
of his clothes, and shouted with all his power. go along the shore, and Rainsford floundered
The lights of the yacht became faint and ever- along by the water. Not far from where he had
vanishing fireflies; then they were blotted out landed, he stopped.
entirely by the night. Some wounded thing, by the evidence a large
Rainsford remembered the shots. They animal, had thrashed about in the underbrush;
had come from the right, and doggedly he the jungle weeds were crushed down and the
swam in that direction, swimming with slow, moss was lacerated; one patch of weeds was
deliberate strokes, conserving his strength. For stained crimson. A small, glittering object not
a seemingly endless time he fought the sea. far away caught Rainsford's eye and he picked
He began to count his strokes; he could do it up. It was an empty cartridge.
possibly a hundred more and then— "A twenty-two," he remarked. "That's odd. It
Rainsford heard a sound. It came out of the must have been a fairly large animal, too. The
darkness, a high, screaming sound, the sound hunter had his nerve with him to tackle it with a
of an animal in an extremity of anguish and light gun. It's clear that the brute put up a fight.
terror. I suppose the first three shots I heard was when
He did not recognize the animal that made the hunter flushed his quarry and wounded it.
the sound; he did not try to; with fresh vitality The last shot was when he trailed it here and
he swam toward the sound. He heard it again; finished it."
then it was cut short by another noise, crisp, He examined the ground closely and
staccato. found what he had hoped to find–the print of
"Pistol shot," muttered Rainsford, swimming hunting boots. They pointed along the cliff in
on. the direction he had been going. Eagerly he
Ten minutes of determined effort brought hurried along, now slipping on a rotten log or
another sound to his ears–the most welcome a loose stone, but making headway; night was
he had ever heard–the muttering and growling beginning to settle down on the island.
of the sea breaking on a rocky shore. He was Bleak darkness was blacking out the sea
almost on the rocks before he saw them: on a and jungle when Rainsford sighted the lights.
night less calm he would have been shattered He came upon them as he turned a crook in
against them. With his remaining strength the coast line, and his first thought was that
he dragged himself from the swirling waters. he had come upon a village, for there were
Jagged crags appeared to jut up into the many lights. But as he forged along he saw to

2
his great astonishment that all the lights were deliberateness, he said: "It is a very great
in one enormous building–a lofty structure pleasure and honour to welcome Mr. Sanger
with pointed towers plunging upward into Rainsford, the celebrated hunter, to my home."
the gloom. His eyes made out the shadowy Automatically Rainsford shook the man's
outlines of a palatial château; it was set on a hand.
high bluff, and on three sides of it cliffs dived "I've read your book about hunting snow
down to where the sea licked greedy lips in the leopards in Tibet, you see," explained the man.
shadows. "I am General Zaroff."
"Mirage," thought Rainsford. But it was no Rainsford's first impression was that the
mirage, he found, when he opened the tall man was singularly handsome; his second
spiked iron gate. The stone steps were real was that there was an original, almost bizarre
enough; the massive door with a leering quality about the general's face. He was a tall
gargoyle for a knocker was real enough; yet man past middle age, for his hair was a vivid
about it all hung an air of unreality. white; but his thick eyebrows and pointed
He lifted the knocker, and it creaked up military moustache were as black as the night
stiffly as if it had never before been used. He from which Rainsford had come. His eyes, too,
let it fall, and it startled him with its booming were black and very bright. He had high cheek
loudness. He thought he heard steps within; bones, a sharp-cut nose, a spare, dark face, the
the door remained closed. Again Rainsford face of a man used to giving orders, the face
lifted the heavy knocker, and let it fall. The door of an aristocrat. Turning to the giant in uniform,
opened then, opened as suddenly as if it were the general made a sign. The giant put away his
on a spring, and Rainsford stood blinking in pistol, saluted, withdrew.
the river of glaring gold light that poured out. "Ivan is an incredibly strong fellow," remarked
The first thing Rainsford's eyes discerned was the general, "but he has the misfortune to be
the largest man Rainsford had ever seen–a deaf and dumb. A simple fellow, but, I'm afraid,
gigantic creature, solidly made and black- like all his race, a bit of a savage."
bearded to the waist. In his hand the man held "Is he Russian?"
a long-barrelled revolver, and he was pointing "He is a Cossack," said the general, and his
it straight at Rainsford's heart. smile showed red lips and pointed teeth. "So
Out of the snarl of beard two small eyes am I.
regarded Rainsford. "Come," he said, "we shouldn't be chatting
"Don't be alarmed," said Rainsford, with a here. We can talk later. Now you want clothes,
smile which he hoped was disarming. "I'm no food, rest. You shall have them. This is a most
robber. I fell off a yacht. My name is Sanger restful spot."
Rainsford of New York City." Ivan had reappeared, and the general spoke
The menacing look in the eyes did not to him with lips that moved but gave forth no
change. The revolver pointed as rigidly as if the sound.
giant were a statue. He gave no sign that he "Follow Ivan, if you please, Mr. Rainsford,"
understood Rainsford's words, or that he had said the general. "I was about to have my dinner
even heard them. He was dressed in uniform, when you came. I'll wait for you. You'll find that
a black uniform trimmed with gray astrakhan. my clothes will fit you, I think."
"I'm Sanger Rainsford of New York," Rainsford It was to a huge, beam-ceilinged bedroom
began again. "I fell off a yacht. I am hungry." with a canopied bed big enough for six men
The man's only answer was to raise with that Rainsford followed the silent giant. Ivan
his thumb the hammer of his revolver. Then laid out an evening suit, and Rainsford, as he
Rainsford saw the man's free hand go to his put it on, noticed that it came from a London
forehead in a military salute, and he saw him tailor who ordinarily cut and sewed for none
click his heels together and stand at attention. below the rank of duke.
Another man was coming down the broad The dining room to which Ivan conducted
marble steps, an erect, slender man in evening him was in many ways remarkable. There was a
clothes. He advanced to Rainsford and held out mediæval magnificence about it; it suggested
his hand. a baronial hall of feudal times with its oaken
In a cultivated voice marked by a slight panels, its high ceiling, its vast refectory table
accent that gave it added precision and where two score men could sit down to eat.

3
About the hall were the mounted heads of many Rainsford asked. "Tigers?"
animals–lions, tigers, elephants, moose, bears; The general smiled. "No," he said. "Hunting
larger or more perfect specimens Rainsford tigers ceased to interest me some years ago.
had never seen. At the great table the general I exhausted their possibilities, you see. No thrill
was sitting, alone. left in tigers, no real danger. I live for danger, Mr.
"You'll have a cocktail, Mr. Rainsford," he Rainsford."
suggested. The cocktail was surpassingly good, The general took from his pocket a gold
and, Rainsford noted, the table appointments cigarette case and offered his guest a long
were of the finest–the linen, the crystal, the black cigarette with a silver tip; it was perfumed
silver, the china. and gave off a smell like incense.
They were eating borsch, the rich red "We will have some capital hunting, you and
soup with whipped cream so dear to Russian I," said the general. "I shall be most glad to have
palates. Half apologetically General Zaroff said: your society."
"We do our best to preserve the amenities of "But what game—" began Rainsford.
civilization here. Please forgive any lapses. We "I'll tell you," said the general. "You will be
are well off the beaten track, you know. Do you amused, I know. I think I may say, in all modesty,
think the champagne has suffered from its long that I have done a rare thing. I have invented a
ocean trip?" new sensation. May I pour you another glass of
"Not in the least," declared Rainsford. He port, Mr. Rainsford?"
was finding the general a most thoughtful and "Thank you, General."
affable host, a true cosmopolite. But there The general filled both glasses, and said:
was one small trait of the general's that made "God makes some men poets. Some He makes
Rainsford uncomfortable. Whenever he looked kings, some beggars. Me He made a hunter.
up from his plate he found the general studying My hand was made for the trigger, my father
him, appraising him narrowly. said. He was a very rich man with a quarter of
"Perhaps," said General Zaroff, "you were a million acres in the Crimea, and he was an
surprised that I recognized your name. You see, ardent sportsman. When I was only five years
I read all books on hunting published in English, old he gave me a little gun, specially made
French, and Russian. I have but one passion in in Moscow for me, to shoot sparrows with.
my life, Mr. Rainsford, and it is the hunt." When I shot some of his prize turkeys with it,
"You have some wonderful heads here," said he did not punish me; he complimented me
Rainsford as he ate a particularly well-cooked on my marksmanship. I killed my first bear in
filet mignon. "That Cape buffalo is the largest I the Caucasus when I was ten. My whole life
ever saw." has been one prolonged hunt. I went into the
"Oh, that fellow. Yes, he was a monster." army–it was expected of noblemen's sons–and
"Did he charge you?" for a time commanded a division of Cossack
"Hurled me against a tree," said the general. cavalry, but my real interest was always the
"Fractured my skull. But I got the brute." hunt. I have hunted every kind of game in every
"I've always thought," said Rainsford, "that the land. It would be impossible for me to tell you
Cape buffalo is the most dangerous of all big how many animals I have killed."
game." The general puffed at his cigarette.
For a moment the general did not reply; he "After the debacle in Russia I left the country,
was smiling his curious red-lipped smile. Then for it was imprudent for an officer of the
he said slowly: "No. You are wrong, sir. The Cape Tsar to stay there. Many noble Russians lost
buffalo is not the most dangerous big game." everything. I, luckily, had invested heavily in
He sipped his wine. "Here in my preserve on American securities, so I shall never have to
this island," he said, in the same slow tone, "I open a tea room in Monte Carlo or drive a taxi
hunt more dangerous game." in Paris. Naturally, I continued to hunt–grizzlies
Rainsford expressed his surprise. "Is there in your Rockies, crocodiles in the Ganges,
big game on this island?" rhinoceroses in East Africa. It was in Africa that
The general nodded. "The biggest." the Cape buffalo hit me and laid me up for six
"Really?" months. As soon as I recovered I started for the
"Oh, it isn't here naturally, of course. I have to Amazon to hunt jaguars, for I had heard they
stock the island." were unusually cunning. They weren't." The
"What have you imported, General?" Cossack sighed. "They were no match at all for
4
a hunter with his wits about him, and a high- Rainsford's bewilderment showed in his face.
powered rifle. I was bitterly disappointed. I was "I wanted the ideal animal to hunt," explained
lying in my tent with a splitting headache one the general. "So I said: 'What are the attributes
night when a terrible thought pushed its way of an ideal quarry?' And the answer was, of
into my mind. Hunting was beginning to bore course: 'It must have courage, cunning, and,
me! And hunting, remember, had been my life. I above all, it must be able to reason.'"
have heard that in America business men often "But no animal can reason," objected
go to pieces when they give up the business Rainsford.
that has been their life." "My dear fellow," said the general, "there is
"Yes, that's so," said Rainsford. one that can."
The general smiled. "I had no wish to go to "But you can't mean—" gasped Rainsford.
pieces," he said. "I must do something. Now, "And why not?"
mine is an analytical mind, Mr. Rainsford. "I can't believe you are serious, General
Doubtless that is why I enjoy the problems of Zaroff. This is a grisly joke."
the chase." "Why should I not be serious? I am speaking
"No doubt, General Zaroff." of hunting."
"So," continued the general, "I asked myself "Hunting? Good God, General Zaroff, what
why the hunt no longer fascinated me. You are you speak of is murder."
much younger than I am, Mr. Rainsford, and The general laughed with entire good nature.
have not hunted as much, but you perhaps can He regarded Rainsford quizzically. "I refuse to
guess the answer." believe that so modern and civilized a young
"What was it?" man as you seem to be harbours romantic
"Simply this: hunting had ceased to be what ideas about the value of human life. Surely your
you call 'a sporting proposition.' It had become experiences in the war—"
too easy. I always got my quarry. Always. There "Did not make me condone cold-blooded
is no greater bore than perfection." murder," finished Rainsford, stiffly.
The general lit a fresh cigarette. Laughter shook the general. "How
"No animal had a chance with me any more. extraordinarily droll you are!" he said. "One does
That is no boast; it is a mathematical certainty. not expect nowadays to find a young man of
The animal had nothing but his legs and his the educated class, even in America, with such
instinct. Instinct is no match for reason. When I a naïve, and, if I may say so, mid-Victorian point
thought of this it was a tragic moment for me, I of view. It's like finding a snuffbox in a limousine.
can tell you." Ah, well, doubtless you had Puritan ancestors.
Rainsford leaned across the table, absorbed So many Americans appear to have had. I'll
in what his host was saying. wager you'll forget your notions when you go
"It came to me as an inspiration what I must hunting with me. You've a genuine new thrill in
do," the general went on. store for you, Mr. Rainsford."
"And that was?" "Thank you, I'm a hunter, not a murderer."
The general smiled the quiet smile of one "Dear me," said the general, quite unruffled,
who has faced an obstacle and surmounted it "again that unpleasant word. But I think I
with success. "I had to invent a new animal to can show you that your scruples are quite ill
hunt," he said. founded."
"A new animal? You're joking." "Yes?"
"Not at all," said the general. "I never joke "Life is for the strong, to be lived by the
about hunting. I needed a new animal. I found strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong.
one. So I bought this island, built this house, The weak of the world were put here to give
and here I do my hunting. The island is perfect the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I
for my purposes–there are jungles with a maze not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I
of trails in them, hills, swamps—" not? I hunt the scum of the earth–sailors from
"But the animal, General Zaroff?" tramp ships–lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites,
"Oh," said the general, "it supplies me with mongrels–a thoroughbred horse or hound is
the most exciting hunting in the world. No other worth more than a score of them."
hunting compares with it for an instant. Every "But they are men," said Rainsford, hotly.
day I hunt, and I never grow bored now, for I "Precisely," said the general. "That is why I use
have a quarry with which I can match my wits." them. It gives me pleasure. They can reason,
5
after a fashion. So they are dangerous." loses."
"But where do you get them?" "Suppose he refuses to be hunted?"
The general's left eyelid fluttered down "Oh," said the general, "I give him his option,
in a wink. "This island is called Ship Trap," he of course. He need not play that game if he
answered. "Sometimes an angry god of the doesn't wish to. If he does not wish to hunt, I
high seas sends them to me. Sometimes, when turn him over to Ivan. Ivan once had the honour
Providence is not so kind, I help Providence a of serving as official knouter to the Great
bit. Come to the window with me." White Tsar, and he has his own ideas of sport.
Rainsford went to the window and looked Invariably, Mr. Rainsford, invariably they choose
out toward the sea. the hunt."
"Watch! Out there!" exclaimed the general, "And if they win?"
pointing into the night. Rainsford's eyes saw The smile on the general's face widened. "To
only blackness, and then, as the general date I have not lost," he said.
pressed a button, far out to sea Rainsford saw Then he added, hastily: "I don't wish you to
the flash of lights. think me a braggart, Mr. Rainsford. Many of
The general chuckled. "They indicate a them afford only the most elementary sort
channel," he said, "where there's none: giant of problem. Occasionally I strike a tartar. One
rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea almost did win. I eventually had to use the
monster with wide-open jaws. They can crush dogs."
a ship as easily as I crush this nut." He dropped "The dogs?"
a walnut on the hardwood floor and brought "This way, please. I'll show you."
his heel grinding down on it. "Oh, yes," he said, The general steered Rainsford to a window.
casually, as if in answer to a question. "I have The lights from the windows sent a flickering
electricity. We try to be civilized here." illumination that made grotesque patterns on
"Civilized? And you shoot down men?" the courtyard below, and Rainsford could see
A trace of anger was in the general's black moving about there a dozen or so huge black
eyes, but it was there for but a second, and he shapes; as they turned toward him, their eyes
said, in his most pleasant manner: "Dear me, glittered greenly.
what a righteous young man you are! I assure "A rather good lot, I think," observed the
you I do not do the thing you suggest. That general. "They are let out at seven every night.
would be barbarous. I treat these visitors with If any one should try to get into my house–or
every consideration. They get plenty of good out of it–something extremely regrettable
food and exercise. They get into splendid would occur to him." He hummed a snatch of
physical condition. You shall see for yourself song from the Folies Bergère.
tomorrow." "And now," said the general, "I want to show
"What do you mean?" you my new collection of heads. Will you come
"We'll visit my training school," smiled the with me to the library?"
general. "It's in the cellar. I have about a dozen "I hope," said Rainsford, "that you will excuse
pupils down there now. They're from the me tonight, General Zaroff. I'm really not feeling
Spanish bark Sanlûcar that had the bad luck at all well."
to go on the rocks cut there. A very inferior "Ah, indeed?" the general inquired,
lot, I regret to say. Poor specimens and more solicitously. "Well, I suppose that's only natural,
accustomed to the deck than to the jungle." after your long swim. You need a good, restful
He raised his hand, and Ivan, who served as night's sleep. To-morrow you'll feel like a new
waiter, brought thick Turkish coffee. Rainsford, man, I'll wager. Then we'll hunt, eh? I've one
with an effort, held his tongue in check. rather promising prospect—"
"It's a game, you see," pursued the general, Rainsford was hurrying from the room.
blandly. "I suggest to one of them that we go "Sorry you can't go with me to-night," called
hunting. I give him a supply of food and an the general. "I expect rather fair sport–a big,
excellent hunting knife. I give him three hours' strong black. He looks resourceful— Well,
start. I am to follow, armed only with a pistol good-night, Mr. Rainsford; I hope you have a
of the smallest calibre and range. If my quarry good night's rest."
eludes me for three whole days, he wins the The bed was good, and the pajamas of the
game. If I find him"–the general smiled–"he softest silk, and he was tired in every fibre of

6
his being, but nevertheless Rainsford could The general shrugged his shoulders and
not quiet his brain with the opiate of sleep. He delicately ate a hothouse grape. "As you wish,
lay, eyes wide open. Once he thought he heard my friend," he said. "The choice rests entirely
stealthy steps in the corridor outside his room. with you. But may I not venture to suggest that
He sought to throw open the door; it would not you will find my idea of sport more diverting
open. He went to the window and looked out. than Ivan's?"
His room was high up in one of the towers. The He nodded toward the corner to where the
lights of the château were out now, and it was giant stood, scowling, his thick arms crossed
dark and silent, but there was a fragment of on his hogshead of chest.
sallow moon, and by its wan light he could see, "You don't mean—" cried Rainsford.
dimly, the courtyard; there, weaving in and out "My dear fellow," said the general, "have I
in the pattern of shadow, were black, noiseless not told you I always mean what I say about
forms; the hounds heard him at the window hunting? This is really an inspiration. I drink to a
and looked up, expectantly, with their green foeman worthy of my steel–at last."
eyes. Rainsford went back to the bed and lay The general raised his glass, but Rainsford
down. By many methods he tried to put himself sat staring at him.
to sleep. He had achieved a doze when, just as "You'll find this game worth playing," the
morning began to come, he heard, far off in the general said, enthusiastically. "Your brain
jungle, the faint report of a pistol. against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your
General Zaroff did not appear until luncheon. strength and stamina against mine. Outdoor
He was dressed faultlessly in the tweeds of chess! And the stake is not without value, eh?"
a country squire. He was solicitous about the "And if I win—" began Rainsford, huskily.
state of Rainsford's health. "I'll cheerfully acknowledge myself defeated
"As for me," sighed the general, "I do not feel if I do not find you by midnight of the third day,"
so well. I am worried, Mr. Rainsford. Last night I said General Zaroff. "My sloop will place you on
detected traces of my old complaint." the mainland near a town."
To Rainsford's questioning glance the The general read what Rainsford was
general said: "Ennui. Boredom." thinking.
Then, taking a second helping of Crêpes "Oh, you can trust me," said the Cossack. "I
Suzette, the general explained: "The hunting will give you my word as a gentleman and a
was not good last night. The fellow lost his sportsman. Of course, you, in turn, must agree
head. He made a straight trail that offered no to say nothing of your visit here."
problems at all. That's the trouble with these "I'll agree to nothing of the kind," said
sailors; they have dull brains to begin with, and Rainsford.
they do not know how to get about in the woods. "Oh," said the general, "in that case— But
They do excessively stupid and obvious things. why discuss that now? Three days hence we
It's most annoying. Will you have another glass can discuss it over a bottle of Veuve Cliquot,
of Chablis, Mr. Rainsford?" unless—"
"General," said Rainsford, firmly, "I wish to The general sipped his wine.
leave this island at once." Then a businesslike air animated him. "Ivan,"
The general raised his thickets of eyebrows; he said to Rainsford, "will supply you with
he seemed hurt. "But, my dear fellow," the hunting clothes, food, a knife. I suggest you
general protested, "you've only just come. wear moccasins; they leave a poorer trail. I
You've had no hunting—" suggest, too, that you avoid the big swamp in
"I wish to go to-day," said Rainsford. He saw the southeast corner of the island. We call it
the dead black eyes of the general on him, Death Swamp. There's quicksand there. One
studying him. General Zaroff's face suddenly foolish fellow tried it. The deplorable part of it
brightened. was that Lazarus followed him. You can imagine
He filled Rainsford's glass with venerable my feelings, Mr. Rainsford. I loved Lazarus; he
Chablis from a dusty bottle. was the finest hound in my pack. Well, I must
"To-night," said the general, "we will hunt– beg you to excuse me now. I always take a
you and I." siesta after lunch. You'll hardly have time for a
Rainsford shook his head. "No, General," he nap, I fear. You'll want to start, no doubt. I shall
said. "I will not hunt." not follow till dusk. Hunting at night is so much

7
more exciting than by day, don't you think? Au was on the jungle. Toward morning, when a dingy
revoir, Mr. Rainsford, au revoir." gray was varnishing the sky, the cry of some
General Zaroff, with a deep, courtly bow, startled bird focussed Rainsford's attention in
strolled from the room. that direction. Something was coming through
From another door came Ivan. Under one arm the bush, coming slowly, carefully, coming by
he carried khaki hunting clothes, a haversack the same winding way Rainsford had come.
of food, a leather sheath containing a long- He flattened himself down on the limb, and
bladed hunting knife; his right hand rested on through a screen of leaves almost as thick
a cocked revolver thrust in the crimson sash as tapestry, he watched. The thing that was
about his waist.... approaching was a man.
Rainsford had fought his way through the It was General Zaroff. He made his way along
bush for two hours. "I must keep my nerve. with his eyes fixed in utmost concentration
I must keep my nerve," he said, through tight on the ground before him. He paused, almost
teeth. beneath the tree, dropped to his knees, and
He had not been entirely clear-headed studied the ground. Rainsford's impulse was
when the château gates snapped shut behind to hurl himself down like a panther, but he saw
him. His whole idea at first was to put distance that the general's right hand held something
between himself and General Zaroff, and, to this metallic–a small automatic pistol.
end, he had plunged along, spurred on by the The hunter shook his head several times, as if
sharp rowels of something very like panic. Now he were puzzled. Then he straightened up and
he had got a grip on himself, had stopped, and took from his case one of his black cigarettes;
was taking stock of himself and the situation. its pungent incense-like smoke floated up to
He saw that straight flight was futile; inevitably Rainsford's nostrils.
it would bring him face to face with the sea. He Rainsford held his breath. The general's eyes
was in a picture with a frame of water, and his had left the ground and were travelling inch by
operations, clearly, must take place within that inch up the tree. Rainsford froze there, every
frame. muscle tensed for a spring. But the sharp eyes
"I'll give him a trail to follow," muttered of the hunter stopped before they reached the
Rainsford, and he struck off from the rude limb where Rainsford lay; a smile spread over
path he had been following into the trackless his brown face. Very deliberately he blew a
wilderness. He executed a series of intricate smoke ring into the air; then he turned his back
loops; he doubled on his tail again and again, on the tree and walked carelessly away, back
recalling all the lore of the fox hunt, and all the along the trail he had come. The swish of the
dodges of the fox. Night found him leg-weary, underbrush against his hunting boots grew
with hands and face lashed by the branches, fainter and fainter.
on a thickly wooded ridge. He knew it would The pent-up air burst hotly from Rainsford's
be insane to blunder on through the dark, even lungs. His first thought made him feel sick
if he had the strength. His need for rest was and numb. The general could follow a trail
imperative and he thought: "I have played the through the woods at night; he could follow an
fox, now I must play the cat of the fable." A big extremely difficult trail; he must have uncanny
tree with a thick trunk and outspread branches powers; only by the merest chance had the
was near by, and, taking care to leave not the Cossack failed to see his quarry.
slightest mark, he climbed up into the crotch, Rainsford's second thought was even more
and stretching out on one of the broad limbs, terrible. It sent a shudder of cold horror through
after a fashion, rested. Rest brought him new his whole being. Why had the general smiled?
confidence and almost a feeling of security. Why had he turned back?
Even so zealous a hunter as General Zaroff Rainsford did not want to believe what his
could not trace him there, he told himself; only reason told him was true, but the truth was as
the devil himself could follow that complicated evident as the sun that had by now pushed
trail through the jungle after dark. But perhaps through the morning mists. The general was
the general was a devil— playing with him! The general was saving
An apprehensive night crawled slowly by him for another day's sport! The Cossack was
like a wounded snake, and sleep did not visit the cat; he was the mouse. Then it was that
Rainsford, although the silence of a dead world Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror.
8
 "I will not lose my nerve. I will not." he tore his foot loose. He knew where he was
He slid down from the tree, and struck off now. Death Swamp and its quicksand.
again into the woods. His face was set and he His hands were tight closed as if his nerve
forced the machinery of his mind to function. were something tangible that someone in the
Three hundred yards from his hiding place darkness was trying to tear from his grip. The
he stopped where a huge dead tree leaned softness of the earth had given him an idea. He
precariously on a smaller, living one. Throwing stepped back from the quicksand a dozen feet
off his sack of food, Rainsford took his knife or so and, like some huge prehistoric beaver, he
from its sheath and began to work with all his began to dig.
energy. Rainsford had dug himself in in France when
The job was finished at last, and he threw a second's delay meant death. That had been
himself down behind a fallen log a hundred a placid pastime compared to his digging
feet away. He did not have to wait long. The cat now. The pit grew deeper; when it was above
was coming again to play with the mouse. his shoulders, he climbed out and from some
Following the trail with the sureness of a hard saplings cut stakes and sharpened them
bloodhound came General Zaroff. Nothing to a fine point. These stakes he planted in the
escaped those searching black eyes, no bottom of the pit with the points sticking up.
crushed blade of grass, no bent twig, no mark, With flying fingers he wove a rough carpet of
no matter how faint, in the moss. So intent was weeds and branches and with it he covered
the Cossack on his stalking that he was upon the mouth of the pit. Then, wet with sweat and
the thing Rainsford had made before he saw it. aching with tiredness, he crouched behind the
His foot touched the protruding bough that was stump of a lightning-charred tree.
the trigger. Even as he touched it, the general He knew his pursuer was coming; he heard
sensed his danger and leaped back with the the padding sound of feet on the soft earth, and
agility of an ape. But he was not quite quick the night breeze brought him the perfume of
enough; the dead tree, delicately adjusted to the general's cigarette. It seemed to Rainsford
rest on the cut living one, crashed down and that the general was coming with unusual
struck the general a glancing blow on the swiftness; he was not feeling his way along,
shoulder as it fell; but for his alertness, he must foot by foot. Rainsford, crouching there, could
have been smashed beneath it. He staggered, not see the general, nor could he see the pit. He
but he did not fall; nor did he drop his revolver. lived a year in a minute. Then he felt an impulse
He stood there, rubbing his injured shoulder, to cry aloud with joy, for he heard the sharp
and Rainsford, with fear again gripping his crackle of the breaking branches as the cover
heart, heard the general's mocking laugh ring of the pit gave way; he heard the sharp scream
through the jungle. of pain as the pointed stakes found their mark.
"Rainsford," called the general, "if you are He leaped up from his place of concealment.
within sound of my voice, as I suppose you are, Then he cowered back. Three feet from the pit
let me congratulate you. Not many men know a man was standing, with an electric torch in his
how to make a Malay man-catcher. Luckily hand.
for me I, too, have hunted in Malacca. You are
proving interesting, Mr. Rainsford. I am going
now to have my wound dressed; it's only a
slight one. But I shall be back. I shall be back."
When the general, nursing his bruised
shoulder, had gone, Rainsford took up his flight
again. It was flight now, a desperate, hopeless
flight, that carried him on for some hours. Dusk
came, then darkness, and still he pressed on.
The ground grew softer under his moccasins;
the vegetation grew ranker, denser; insects bit
him savagely. Then, as he stepped forward, his
foot sank into the ooze. He tried to wrench it
back, but the muck sucked viciously at his foot
as if it were a giant leech. With a violent effort
9
 "You've done well, Rainsford," the voice of dashed along. A blue gap showed between the
the general called. "Your Burmese tiger pit trees dead ahead. Ever nearer drew the hounds.
has claimed one of my best dogs. Again you Rainsford forced himself on toward that gap. He
score. I think, Mr. Rainsford, I'll see what you reached it. It was the shore of the sea. Across
can do against my whole pack. I'm going home a cove he could see the gloomy gray stone of
for a rest now. Thank you for a most amusing the château. Twenty feet below him the sea
evening." rumbled and hissed. Rainsford hesitated. He
At daybreak Rainsford, lying near the swamp, heard the hounds. Then he leaped far out into
was awakened by a sound that made him know the sea....
that he had new things to learn about fear. It When the general and his pack reached
was a distant sound, faint and wavering, but he the place by the sea, the Cossack stopped.
knew it. It was the baying of a pack of hounds. For some minutes he stood regarding the
Rainsford knew he could do one of two things. blue-green expanse of water. He shrugged
He could stay where he was and wait. That was his shoulders. Then he sat down, took a drink
suicide. He could flee. That was postponing of brandy from a silver flask, lit a perfumed
the inevitable. For a moment he stood there, cigarette, and hummed a bit from "Madama
thinking. An idea that held a wild chance came Butterfly."
to him, and, tightening his belt, he headed away General Zaroff had an exceedingly good
from the swamp. dinner in his great panelled dining hall that
The baying of the hounds drew nearer, then evening. With it he had a bottle of Pol Roger
still nearer, nearer, ever nearer. On a ridge and half a bottle of Chambertin. Two slight
Rainsford climbed a tree. Down a watercourse, annoyances kept him from perfect enjoyment.
not a quarter of a mile away, he could see the One was the thought that it would be difficult to
bush moving. Straining his eyes, he saw the replace Ivan; the other was that his quarry had
lean figure of General Zaroff; just ahead of him, escaped him; of course the American hadn't
Rainsford made out another figure whose wide played the game–so thought the general as
shoulders surged through the tall jungle weeds; he tasted his after-dinner liqueur. In his library
it was the giant Ivan, and he seemed pulled he read, to soothe himself, from the works
forward by some unseen force; Rainsford knew of Marcus Aurelius. At ten he went up to his
that Ivan must be holding the pack in leash. bedroom. He was deliciously tired, he said to
They would be on him any minute now. His himself, as he locked himself in. There was a
mind worked frantically. He thought of a native little moonlight, so before turning on his light
trick he had learned in Uganda. He slid down he went to the window and looked down at the
the tree. He caught hold of a springy young courtyard. He could see the great hounds, and
sapling and to it he fastened his hunting knife, he called: "Better luck another time," to them.
with the blade pointing down the trail; with a Then he switched on the light.
bit of wild grapevine he tied back the sapling. A man, who had been hiding in the curtains
Then he ran for his life. The hounds raised their of the bed, was standing there.
voices as they hit the fresh scent. Rainsford "Rainsford!" screamed the general. "How in
knew now how an animal at bay feels. God's name did you get here?"
He had to stop to get his breath. The baying of "Swam," said Rainsford. "I found it quicker
the hounds stopped abruptly, and Rainsford's than walking through the jungle."
heart stopped, too. They must have reached The general sucked in his breath and smiled.
the knife. "I congratulate you," he said. "You have won the
He shinned excitedly up a tree and looked game."
back. His pursuers had stopped. But the hope Rainsford did not smile. "I am still a beast at
that was in Rainsford's brain when he climbed bay," he said, in a low, hoarse voice. "Get ready,
died, for he saw in the shallow valley that General Zaroff."
General Zaroff was still on his feet. But Ivan The general made one of his deepest bows.
was not. The knife, driven by the recoil of the "I see," he said. "Splendid! One of us is to furnish
springing tree, had not wholly failed. a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in
Rainsford had hardly tumbled to the ground this very excellent bed. On guard, Rainsford...."
when the pack took up the cry again. He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford
"Nerve, nerve, nerve!" he panted, as he decided.
10