The+Most+Dangerous+Game

The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

This story begins with two men talking on a ship, in the sea, on a very dark night. A man named Rainsford is talking with a man called Whitney. Rainsford and Whitney are wild animal hunters. Rainsford is famous as an animal hunter. The men are on their way to the Amazon to hunt a jaguar.

“ Off there to the right – somewhere – is a large island,” said Whitney. “ That island is a mystery.”

“What is the name of that island?” asked Rainsford.

“It’s called “Ship Trap Island” said Whitney. “ Sailors are afraid of that island but I don’t know why.”

“I can’t see it”, replied Rainsford, trying to look into the dark night. “ This world is made up of men who are hunters and the hunted, Rainsford continued. “We are lucky to be two hunters.”

“ The sailors say the island is evil and may have cannibals, “ said Whitney

“ That’s silly,” replied Rainsford.

“I’m going to bed, good night,” said Whitney.

“ I'm not sleepy so I am going to smoke my pipe on the top deck of the ship” answered Rainsford.

The story continues with Rainsford smoking his pipe alone. He hears 3 gunshots in the distance. He tries to see where the shots came from, but it is too dark. He climbs up on the railing of the ship to see if he can get a better look. He knocks his pipe out of his mouth and when he tries to grab his pipe he falls into the sea. No one can hear him cry for help. The ship he was on sails away and Rainsford swims in the direction of the gunshots he heard. He thinks the sound of gunshots must be people on the shore. As he swims he hears screams of terror and then the sounds of more gunshot. Ten minutes later, Rainsford reaches the island. He tells himself, “Where there is a gun shot there will be men and where there are men there is food and dry clothes.” Rainsford notices the footprint of hunting boots. He follows the footprints and they lead him to a great mansion.

Rainsford knocks on the door and a gigantic man opens it with a long black beard holding a gun pointed at Rainsford’s heart.

“I am not a robber. I fell off a ship. I am hungry. My name is Sanger Rainsford and I am from New York City.”

The giant man was about to shoot Rainsford when instead, he stands at attention clicks his heels together and salutes a slender man who was coming down wide marble steps inside the mansion. This man is General Zaroff. General Zaroff speaks with a well-educated voice and he has a slight accent.

“It is a great pleasure to welcome the famous hunter, Mr. Rainsford to my home.” “ I’ve read your book about hunting snow leopards in Tibet.”

Rainsford shakes General Zaroff’s hand. General Zaroff turns to the giant man holding the gun, he makes a hand sign and the giant puts away the gun.

“Ivan is a very strong man”, General Zaroff explains, “but he is deaf and dumb. He and I are both from Russia. “We can talk later. You need clothes, food and rest. Follow Ivan and he will take you to a guest room where you will find what you need. I was going to have dinner and I will wait for you.”

Rainsford was taken to a beautiful bedroom with a huge bed big enough to fit 6 men. The suit that Ivan gave him to wear was expensive and made in London by the best tailors. When Rainsford went to the dining room he saw that it was like an old castle with animals heads mounted on the walls. These were large animal heads such as elephants, lions, tigers, and bears. The dining room table was huge and set with the best linens, silver, and crystal. General Zaroff was sitting alone and poured Rainsford a glass of champagne.

“You may have been surprised that I recognized your name, said general Zaroff, but I read all the books on hunting published in English, French, and Russian. I have one passion in life, and it is the hunt.”

Rainsford said, “The Cape Buffalo head on your wall is the largest one I ever saw.” “ I always thought the Cape Buffalo was the most dangerous of all the big hunting animals. “

“You are wrong”, General Zaroff said. “ The Cape Buffalo is not the most dangerous big game. Here on my island I hunt more dangerous game. In fact, I hunt the biggest game a hunter can hunt. Of course, it isn’t here naturally, I have to stock the island.”

Rainsford asked, “What animal are you talking about? A tiger?”

“No”, General Zaroff answered. I live for danger and hunting tigers no longer interests me. We will have some great hunting, you and I, “ said the general.

“But what game ......" began Rainsford.

“I’ll tell you”, said the general. “You will be amused.” “I have done a rare thing. I have invented a new animal to hunt that is more thrilling.”

The general explained that he thought God made some men kings and other men beggars. The general believed God made him a HUNTER. The general’s father was a very rich man. He owned a lot of land and was interested in all kinds of outdoor hunting and fishing. He was proud that the general was very good at hunting animals at a very young age. The general told Rainsford he has hunted every kind of animal in every land. The general said he killed more animals than he could count. The general got bored with hunting after awhile and decided to hunt an animal on this island that has courage, cunning, and could reason.

“But no animal can reason,” interrupted Rainsford.

“Yes, there is one that can.” Answered the general.

“But you can’t mean-“ gasped Rainsford. “ This must be a grisly joke. This is not hunting. This is murder.”

The general laughed. “ you will find it thrilling to go hunting with me.”

Rainsford looked ay he general and said, “ No thank you. I am a hunter but not a murderer. “ “ How do you get the men you hunt?”

The General brought Rainsford to the window that overlooked the sea. He showed Rainsford how he set up lights that sailors thought were channel lights to guide them safely passed the dangerous rocks. But really these lights tricked ships to crash on the rocks and sink. The survivors would come to the shore of the island where General Zaroff would suggest to one of the survivors that they go hunting. The general would give the man food and an excellent hunting knife and a 3-hour head start. “If the man does not want to play this game, I give him to Ivan who will torture him. No man has won this game so far. One man almost won but I had to use the dogs.”

“What dogs?” asked Rainsford

The general pointed out the window toward the ground and Rainsford saw more than a dozen huge black dogs. “ The dogs are let out every night at 7pm and if anyone tries to get in or out of the house, the dogs will attack them and kill them.

“I hope you will excuse me, General Zaroff, said Rainsford, I would like to go to my room now.”

“Good night, said the general. I am hunting tonight and it should be good. I’m sorry you can’t come with me. I hope you have a good night’s sleep.”

Rainsford could not sleep. He noticed his bedroom door was locked and his room was high above the ground. Just as morning started, he heard a gun shot off in the distance.

The next morning General Zaroff did not meet Rainsford until lunchtime. General Zaroff told Rainsford his hunt was boring last night because the man he hunted just ran in a straight path and was too easy to catch and kill.

“General,” said Rainsford firmly, “I wish to leave this island at once.”

“Tonight,” said the general, “we will hunt – you and I.” Rainsford shook his head.

“No, general I will not hunt.”” The general shrugged his shoulders. “As you wish, my friend,” said the general, the choice is to hunt with me or be tortured by Ivan. But it is your choice.”

“You don’t mean --, “ cried Rainsford.

“Yes, Mr. Rainsford, your brain against mine in the hunt,” answered the general.

“And if I win--,” began Rainsford.

“Then I will put you on my private ship and sail you wherever you want to go.” Replied the general. “Ivan will supply you with hunting clothes, food and a knife. I suggest you wear moccasins and avoid the swamp, we call it Death Swamp because it has quicksand. I will wait until dusk to begin hunting you. Hunting at night is so much more exciting, don’t you agree? You may leave at any time now.”

General Zaroff bowed and left the room.

From another door Ivan entered to give Rainsford hunting clothes, a sack of food, and a hunting knife.

“I must stay calm, I must stay calm,” Rainsford told himself as he ran as fast as he could from the General’s mansion, into the forest.

Rainsford made a difficult trail though the thick forest for the General to follow. His trail had many loops and doubles back many times. He found a big tree with a very thick trunk and many strong branches. Rainsford needed rest so he climbed the tree without making any marks and rest for a while.

When morning came Rainsford felt much better. Rainsford heard General Zaroff coming down the trail, stop under the tree and bent over to look carefully at the ground. Then the general stood up, looking puzzled, and lit a cigarette. Rainsford held his breath. The general's eyes left the ground and were traveling inch by inch up the tree. Rainsford froze. But the general’s eyes stopped before they reached the branch that Rainsford was on. The general turned around on the trail and went back up the trail smiling.

Rainsford then understood the truth about the General. The general was an excellent hunter and could find Rainsford in the dark. The general was saving catching Rainsford for another day. The general was making a game of killing Rainsford. Rainsford now understood the meaning of terror.

When the general left, Rainsford found a huge dead tree and made a special trap for the general. When the general came back, he almost was caught in the trap but he was too quick and only the general’s shoulder was wounded.

“Rainsford,” called the general, “if you are within the sound of my voice, let me congratulate you. Not many men know how to make a Malay Man Catcher Trap. Lucky for me I knew about this special trap. You are proving to be interesting. I am going to get my wounded shoulder taken care of but I will be back.”

Rainsford ran off into the forest for many hours. The day began to end and as it became dark, he reached the Death Swamp and the quicksand. Rainsford dug a deep pit just in front of the quicksand. He cut down tree saplings and cut them into sharp stakes that he planted in the pit. He climbed out of the pit and covered it with branches. He heard noises coming his way in the dark so he hid behind a tree where he could not see the pit or the general but he could smell the general’s cigarette. Then he heard a sharp crack if breaking branches and a scream of pain as the points of the spear ended the like that fell on them.

Rainsford was so happy to think that the general was finally killed and would not try to hunt him anymore, that he jumped up from his hiding place but quickly fell back when he saw the General standing only 3 FEET from him.

“Your tiger pit killed my best dog. I wonder how well you will do against my whole pack of dogs. I’m going home for a rest now. Thank you for a most amusing evening.”

Rainsford rested and in the morning he heard the dogs coming for him. An idea that held a wild chance came to him and he ran away from the swamp. On the ridge, Rainsford climbed a tree. Looking down by the water, he could see General Zaroff below and ahead of him was the giant Ivan holding a leash of the dogs. Rainsford set another trap using his knife and tying it back on a young sapling tree.

When the dogs, Ivan and General Zaroff reached the point of the knife trap, the dogs stopped. Rainsford looked back hoping the knife would have killed General Zaroff, but instead it stabbed Ivan and he was on the ground. The dogs began barking and getting closer to the edge. He could see the General’s mansion across the cove and sea far below him. He heard the dog’s barking even closer. Rainsford jumped out into the sea. He jumped from a very high cliff.

The general thought Rainsford was dead from his jump into the sea, so the general went home. He had a good dinner and at 10 o’clock he looked out at his dogs and told them, “better luck hunting next time.”

He was bothered that he would have to replace Ivan who died from the knife trap, and he was bothered that Rainsford got away from him. Then the general locked himself in his bedroom. The general switched on the light in his bedroom. A man, who had been hiding behind the long curtains by the bed was standing there.

“Rainsford!” screamed the general. “How did you get here?”

“I swam,” said Rainsford

The general made a deep bow. “I see.” He said.

We will fight and one of us will be thrown to the dogs and die while the winner will sleep in this excellent bed.

That night after fighting with the general, Rainsford thought he had never slept in a better bed!