The Most Dangerous Game 21

Then a businesslike air animated him. “Ivan,” he said to Rainsford,”will supply you with hunting clothes, food, a knife. I suggest you wearmoccasins; they leave a poorer trail. I suggest, too, that you avoid thebig swamp in the southeast corner of the island. We call it Death Swamp.There’s quicksand there. One foolish fellow tried it. The deplorablepart of it was that Lazarus followed him. You can imagine my feelings,Mr. Rainsford. I loved Lazarus; he was the finest hound in my pack.Well, I must beg you to excuse me now. I always’ take a siesta afterlunch. You’ll hardly have time for a nap, I fear. You’ll want to start,no doubt. I shall not follow till dusk. Hunting at night is so much moreexciting than by day, don’t you think? Au revoir, Mr. Rainsford, aurevoir.” General Zaroff, with a deep, courtly bow, strolled from the room. From another door came Ivan. Under one arm he carried khaki huntingclothes, a haversack of food, a leather sheath containing a long-bladedhunting knife; his right hand rested on a cocked revolver thrust in thecrimson sash about his waist.