The Interlopers - Saki

The Interlopers is a short story about two men fighting for what they believe is theirs. In the beginning we learn that Ulrich Von Gradwitz was in his forest hunting not only for animals, but a much bigger prey, his arch nemesis Georg Znaeym. We learn about a feud dated back many generations, where the Von Gradwitz faimly was granted a strip of land over the Znaeyms. The feud had lasted three generations but ever since Ulrich, the inheritor, arrived on the scene it has become personal. He hated Georg more than anything in the world, and Georg would stop at nothing to claim what he thought was rightfully his.

Then one winter night both Ulrich and Georg were hunting with their men on the strip of a land, each hoping for a bloodthirsty encounter. Then it happened, the anticipated and awaited encounter occurred. Both men stood in silence glaring at each other with their loaded rifles, ready to engage in fire. But shockingly neither of them are able to shoot down their very own neighbor, they cannot bring themselves to shoot someone down without anything being said.

Then suddenly as they stood glaring at each other a bolt of lightning struck down on the land and a tree fell on both men crushing them so they couldn't move. Ulrich spotted Znaeym also trapped and struggling to free himself but to no avail. Both men began to argue and mock one another. They quickly discovered that this was doing no good to either of them.

Ulrich drew out his wine flask and asked Georg if he wanted a drink. He told him that if one of them were going to die, they might as well die as comfortably as they can. But Georg rejected this kind gesture and told him he doesn't drink wine with his enemy. Again there was silence. Ulrich felt that the hatred was dying down and asked Georg to set their differences aside. He wanted to end the ancient fight and asked to be friends. Georg agreed and they decided to end the quarrel created by their ancestors.

As the time passed, both men gave up and awaited their death. But then they saw in the distance a group of men, so they thought, walking towards them. They were both puzzled each of them thinking that they were his men. But then they came nearer, Ulrich discovered that these were nobody's men, but they were indeed wolves.