Free Audio: Saki's "The Interlopers"

"The Interlopers" is a fantastic short story written by Saki. It's a must-read for 9th Graders. You can read and listen to the free audio - text here.

PLOT SUMMARY:
"The Interlopers" is a story of two men, Georg Znaeym and Ulrich von Gradwitz, whose families have fought over a small strip of forest in the eastern Carpathian Mountains for generations. It's kind of like a Romanian Hatfield's and McCoy's story. Ulrich's family legally owns the land, but Georg – feeling it rightfully belongs to him – hunts there anyway. One winter night, Ulrich catches Georg hunting in his forest. The two would never shoot without warning and soil their family’s honor, so they hesitate to acknowledge one another. As an “act of God,” a tree branch suddenly falls on them, trapping the men next to each other under a log. Gradually, they realize the futility of their quarrel and become friends to end the family feud. They call out for their men’s assistance, and after a brief period, Ulrich makes out eight to ten figures approaching over a hill. The story ends when Ulrich realizes who the "interlopers" are.