Evening star., 1925-06-21
Continued from Yesterdays starr

CONTINUED from Yesterdays Star.D
Laughter shook the General. How
extraordinarily droll you are he said.
"One does not expect nowadays to find
young man of the educated class
even in America. with such naive.
and, IL | may say so. mid Victorian
point OF view. It's like finding
snuffbox in limousine. All. well.
doubtless YOU had Puritan ancestors.
So many Americans appear to have
had. I'll wager you'll forget your no
tions when YOU GO hunting with me.
You've a genuine new thrill In store
for you, Mr.. Rainsford.
Thank you, I'm a hunter. not
murderer
Dear me-" said the General, quite
unruffied. again that unplea sa nj word
But I think / can show you that your
scrupples are quite illfounded.
Yes"
Life is for the strong. 10 be lived
by the strong. and. If needs be. taken
by the strong. The weak Of the world
were put here 10 give the strong
pleasure. am strong. Why should
I not use my gift? II | wish 70 hunt,
why should | not? | hunt the scum
Of the earth-sailors from tramp ships
-lascars. blacks, Chinese. whites.
mongrels-a thoroughbred horse or
hound is worth more than a score Of
them"
But they are men," said Rainsford
hotly.
precisely said the General. THAT
is why use them. 1t gives me pleas
ure. They can reason, after a fash
ion. So they are dangerous.
But where do you get Them"
Tt,4 laff oil ftItf n
down in wink. This island is called
Ship Trap he answered. Some
times an angry god Of the high seas
sends them to me. Sometimes. when
Providence is not so kind. | help
Providence a bit. Come to the win
dow with me.
Rainsford went to the window and
looked out toward the sea.
Watch, Out there" exclaimed the
General, pointing into the night.
Rainsford's eyes saw only blackness.
and then. as the General pressed
button. far out to sea Rainsford saw
the flash of lights.
The General chuckled. They indi-
cate channel" he said. where
there's none: giant rocks with razor
edges crouch like a sea monster with
wide-open Jaws. They can crush a
ship as easily as | crush this nut He
dropped walnut on the hardwood
floor and brought his heel grinding
down on it. oh. yes" he said.
casually. as If in answer TO a aues-
ton, Il have electricity. We try to he
civilized here"
Civilized? And YOU shoot down
men?"
A trace of anger was in the Gen.
erals black eyes. but it was there for
but second. and he said, in his most
pleasant manner: Dear me. what a
righteous young man you are I as
sure YOU l do not do the thing YOU
suggest. That would be barba rouS.
I treat these visitors with every con
sideration. They get into splendid
physical condition. You shall see for
yourself tomorrow
What do you mean"
Wen visit my training school.
smiled the General. It's in the eel
lar. l have about dozen pupils down
there now. They're from the Spa nish
bark San Lucar that had the bad luck
to 60 on the rocks out there. A very
inferior lot. | regret to say. Poor
specimens and more accustomed to
the deck than to the Jungle
He raised his hand, and Ivan. who
served as waiter. brought thick Turk
ish coffee. Rainsford. with an effort
held his tongue in check.
It's game, you see" pursued the
General blandly. Il suggest to one
Of them that we go hunting. l give
him supply of food and an excellent
hunting knife. | give him three
hours start. | am to follow. armed
only with a pistol of the smallest cal.
fber and range. If my quarry eIudes
me for three whole days he wins the
game. If ! find him"-the General
Snniled-"he loses"
Suppose he refuses to he hunted?"
oh" said the General. Il give him
his option. of course. He need not
play that game if he doesn't wish to.
If he does not wish to hunt, / turn
him over to Ivan. Ivan once had the
honor of serving s official knouter to
the Great White Gar. and he has
his own ideas of sport. Invaria bly,.
Mr.. Rainsford, inva ria bly, they choose
the hunt
And if they VIM
The smile on the Generals face
widened. ITO date | have not lost,
he said.
Then he added. hastily: Il dom
wish you to think me bra ggart
Mr.. Rainsford. Many of them afford
only the most elementary sort of
problem. Occasionally l strike tar
tar. One almost did win. l eventually
had to use the dogs"
THE doss?"
u
The General steered RainSford to
q window. The lights from the win
dows sent a tiickerins illumination
that made grotesque patterns on the
courtyard below, and Rainsford could
see moving about there a dozen or
so huge black shapes as they turn :
ed toward him, their eyes glittered
Ereen1y.
"a rather good lot. / think" OBJ
ha Lat
at seven every night. If any one
should try to get into my house-ol
out of it-something extremely re-
gretable would occur to him He
hummed snatch of song from the
F'olies Bergere.
And now said the General. 81
want to show you my new collection
to the library"
II hope" said Rainsford that yor
will excuse me tonight. Gen. Zaroff
I'm really not feeling A all we'll"
"Ah. indeed ?" the General inquired
soIicitously. Well ] suppose that 9
only natural after your long swim
You need good, restful nights
sleep. Tomorrow you'll feel like a
new man. I'll wager. Then We'll hunt
eh? I've one rather promising pros
pect."
fa1nSford was nurrvlnS from the
room.
Sorry YOU can't go with me to-
night called the General. II expect
rather fair sport-a big, strong black.
He looks resourceful-- Well, good
night, Mr.. Rainsford; l hope you have
a good nights rest.
The bed was good, and the pa ia ma 9
Of the softest silk. and he was tired
in every fiber Of his being. but never
h