Task: Read closely and focus on three types of conflict present in the storys plot.

Annotate
evidence of those types of conflict by underlining and highlighting phrases in the text.

The Most Dangerous Game (abridged) By Richard Connell

5
This weather is terrible, Rainsford said. The fog is so thick I cant see my hand in front of me.
Dont worry; Whitney said. We should have good hunting weather when we get to port.
When hunting I forget about the weather.
Its a great sport for the hunter but not for the animal.
10 Who cares about how the animals feel? Rainsford laughed.
Im sure that they feel one thing, his friend answered. They must feel fearfear of pain and fear
of death.
Then Whitney yawned. Im going to get some sleep now. Goodnight.
Rainsford was not tired. He paced the deck wishing that the ship would go faster. He was bored,
15 even though the captain had tried to scare him with a story about a nearby island where ships often
disappeared. ShipTrap Island, the captain had called it. Thinking of the superstitious story now,
Rainsford laughed.
Then, from across the water he heard a strange sound. Somewhere off in the darkness someone
had fired a gun three times. He went to the rail and leaned over. At the same moment the boat
20 turned. Rainsford lost his balance and fell into the water.
The ship was speeding out of sight. Nobody knew what had happened to Rainsford. He began to
swim in the direction where the shots had come from. Maybe there was an island out there. Where
there were guns there were men. Where there were men there would be food and shelter.
As he fought against the waves and tried to avoid being pulled under, he heard a long, shrill scream,
25 like no animal he had ever heard. No matter, he thought. I cant let myself get distracted.
Ten minutes later Rainsford pulled himself over some sharp rocks and onto the shore. He fell fast
asleep.
He woke up early the next morning and began to explore the island. Not far away he found an
empty rifle shell. There were sign that a large animal had been wounded there. Some leaves nearby
30 were stained red.
There were tracks of hunting boots. Rainsford followed them and came to a huge, gloomy
mansion. He could hardly believe his good luck.
The door was opened by the biggest man he had ever seen. In his hand the man held a long
revolver. It was pointed at Rainsfords heart.
35 Im not a robber, Rainsford said. I fell off a ship. My name is Sanger Rainsford. Im from NewYork
City.
The look in the mans eyes did not change. He gave no sign he understood what Rainsford said. His
only answer was to raise the gun an inch. Then he turned and saluted a man coming toward them.
It is a great pleasure and honor to welcome Mr. Sanger Rainsford, the famous hunter, to my home.
40 My name is General Zaroff. This is my island. He turned to his servant and said, Ivan, put away
your gun. Come, Mr. Rainsford, we can talk later. Right now you need food and rest.
The dinner that night was the best that Rainsford had ever tasted. The general showed him every
hospitality. Perhaps, he said, you were surprised that I recognize your name. You see, I read all I
can about hunting. I have only one interest in life, and this is the hunt.
45 Is there game on this island?
Yes, said the general, the most dangerous game.
Really? asked Rainsford. Whats that? Tigers?
No, replied the general. For me there is no thrill left in hunting tigers. I live for real danger. I have
hunted every kind of game in every land. It would be impossible to count how many wild animals I
50 have killed. But hunting had become too easy for me. I always got what I went after. Always. It
became boring, until I began to hunt the most dangerous game.
And what was that? asked Rainsford, really interested.
I needed a new animal.
A new one?
55 I found one. Now I hunt almost every day. I never get bored. I hunt an animal that can think, the
general said.
There is only one animal that can think. You cant mean ?
And why not?
General Zaroff, youre not speaking of hunting, youre speaking of murder.
60 Never! With me its a fair contest. I lure ships onto the rocks with my fake lighthouse. I save the
sailors and make them my guests. Ivan trains them in the dungeon especially for my game. When
they are ready, I give them food and an excellent hunting knife. I also give them a three hours start.
If they escape for two days, they win. If I find themthey lose.
This is mad! You hunt men!
65 And tomorrow Ill enjoy my greatest hunt, continued General Zaroff with a smile. Youll find this
game worth playing. Your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and
stamina against mine. Outdoor chess! And the stake is not without value, eh?
If I refuse?
You cant refuse. Ivan is very persuasive.
70 What if I win?
 If you escape for two days I will have a ship of mine take you back to civilization.
Rainsford stared at the general in disbelief.
Would you like to come to my study and see my collection of hunting trophies? asked Zaroff with
a gleam in his eyes.
75 No, replied Rainsford firmly. I am ready for bed.
Very well, the general said calmly as he rose from his chair. Sleep well. Ivan will lock you in for
the night. I would hate for you to wander outside and get caught by my hounds before we can have
our sport.
Rainsford couldnt sleep that night. He tossed and turned and listened to the baying of hounds
80 beneath his window.
The next morning, Ivan pushed Rainsford out of the gate. For a half hour, Rainsford ran like a
frightened animal. His only thought was getting as far away as possible from General Zaroff. But
the island was small. He could not go far in any direction before coming to the sea.
I must think clearly, he said to himself. Ill give him a false trail to follow. He made a series of
85 circles and doubled back on his trail again and again. Toward dawn he climbed up a tree and
stretched out on a limb. No one could follow the trail, he thought. For a while he rested.
Rainsford was wakened by the sound of footsteps coming his way. It was General Zaroff. He was
carefully looking at the ground. He shook his head many times, noticing every leaf and twig that
was out of place. Rainsford held his breath. The generals eyes left the ground and traveled inch by
90 inch up the tree. His sharp eyes stopped before they reached the limb where Rainsford rested. A
smile spread over his face. Then he turned and walked back along the trail.
Rainsfords first thought made him feel sick. The general was a really great hunter. He could follow
a trail through the woods at night. Only by luck had he missed seeing Rainsford.
But Rainsfords second thought was even more terrible. Why had the general smiled? Why had he
95 turned back? Zaroff was playing with him! The general was saving him for another days sport!
I will not lose my nerve. I will not. He slid down the tree and went on through the woods. He
forced himself to think. Three hundred yards from his hiding place he stopped where a huge dead
tree leaned on a smaller 1iving one. Rainsford took out his knife and began to work with all of his
strength.
100 When the job was finished he hid behind a fallen log. He didnt have to wait long. The cat was
coming again to play with the mouse.
Again, nothing escaped Zaroffs eyes. His gun gleamed in the sunlight. His foot touched the trap
that Rainsford had set. The general sensed danger and leaped back as quickly as an acrobat. But he
was not quick enough. The dead tree crashed down and struck the general on the shoulder. He
105 stumbled but did not fall.
Rainsford, if you can hear my voice, let me congratulate you. Not many men could have set a
mancatcher trap for me. Im going back to take care of my shoulder, but I will be back.
 Rainsford ran away like a madman. It was getting dark again. The ground became soft. He was in a
part of the island that was jungle. He took a step forward. His foot sank into the mud. He pulled it
110 out with a great effort. Quicksand!
He had another idea. He stepped back from the quicksand and began to dig like he had in the
trenches during the war. When he had dug a pit he could stand up in, he climbed out, cut some
sticks and sharpened each one to a fine point. He forced them into the mud at the bottom with the
points sticking up. He hid the opening under some loose branches and plants. Then, he waited.
115 This time he heard a new sound--barking and sniffing. General Zaroff was using a dog to find him.
He heard the sound of crashing and a yelp of pain. The pointed sticks went through their target.
Then he heard a voice.
Youve done well, Rainsford. Your trap has killed one of my best dogs. Im going home to rest now,
but I will be back this afternoon. Lets see what you can do against a whole pack of my hounds.
120 Rainsford was desperate. He was out of new ideas. Late that afternoon, as he was running along
the cliff above the sea, he heard the barking of the hounds. The baying of the hounds drew nearer,
then still nearer, nearer, ever nearer. On a ridge Rainsford climbed a tree. Not a quarter of a mile
away, he could see the bush moving. Straining his eyes, he saw the lean figure of General Zaroff;
just ahead of him
125 Rainsford made out another figure whose wide shoulders surged through the tall jungle weeds; it
was the giant Ivan, and he seemed pulled forward by some unseen force; Rainsford knew that Ivan
must be holding the pack in leash.
They would be on him any minute now. His mind worked frantically. He thought of a native trick he
had learned in Uganda. He slid down the tree. He caught hold of a springy young sapling and to it
130 he fastened his hunting knife, with the blade pointing down the trail; with a bit of wild grapevine he
tied back the sapling.
Then he ran for his life. The hounds raised their voices as they hit the fresh scent. Rainsford knew
now how an animal at bay feels.
He had to stop to get his breath. The baying of the hounds stopped abruptly, and Rainsfords heart
135 stopped too. They must have reached the knife.
He shinned excitedly up a tree and looked back. His pursuers had stopped. But the hope that was in
Rainsfords brain when he climbed died; for he saw in the shallow valley that General Zaroff was still
on his feet. But Ivan was not. The knife, driven by the recoil of the springing tree, had not wholly
failed.
140 Rainsford had hardly tumbled to the ground when the pack took up the cry again.
Nerve, nerve, nerve! he panted, as he dashed along. A blue gap showed between the trees dead
ahead.
Ever nearer drew the hounds. Rainsford forced himself on toward that gap. He reached it. It was the
shore of the sea. Across a cove he could see the gloomy gray stone of the mansion. Twenty feet
145 below him the sea rumbled and hissed.
 Rainsford hesitated. He heard the hounds.
He waited until he could see them. Forty feet below he could also see the ocean waves crashing
against the sharp rocks.
There was only one chance. Anything was better than facing the generals dogs. He turned and
150 leaped far out into the water.
When the general reached the cliff he was disappointed. Rainsford had chosen the cowards way
out. Zaroff was cheated out of his prize. For a few minutes he watched the wild water. No one could
live through that. Humming one of his favorite operas, he walked back to the mansion.
General Zaroff ate a good dinner that night. It would be difficult to replace Ivan, but it was a bigger
155 shame that the famous American hunter had not played the game. But there would be other guests
and other hunts.
At ten he went up to his bedroom. There was a little moonlight, so, before turning on his light, he
went to the window and looked down at the courtyard. He could see the great hounds, and he
called: Better luck another time, to them. Then he switched on the light.
160 A man, who had been hiding in the curtains of the bed, was standing there.
Rainsford? How in Gods name did you get here?
Swam, said Rainsford. I found it quicker that walking through the jungle.
The general smiled. I congratulate you. You have won the game.
Rainsford did not smile. I am still a beast at bay, he said, in a low, hoarse voice. Get ready, General
165 Zaroff.
I see, said the general. The hunted has turned on the hunter. Well, one of us will sleep in this
excellent bed tonight. The other shall be food for the hounds. Defend yourself!
He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided the next morning.

TOPIC: DECLARATION or CLAIM about Topic:

THREE POINTS about topic to support/prove your declaration/claim:

1 2 3 =

THESIS: