The Interlopers

“The Interlopers” is one of the best-known short stories by British author Hector Hugh Munro (H. H. Munro), who wrote under the pseudonym Saki. As is typical of the author’s style, the story uses nature to question the morals and manners of humanity, especially of the more elite classes. Saki is also known for his twist endings, of which this story is a prime example. Other works by Saki include “The Open Window” and “The Story-Teller”

This guide refers to the edition of the story in EMC Publishing’s Mirrors & Windows anthology, Level IV, published in 2009.

At the start of the story, Ulrich von Gradwitz is patrolling a forest in the Carpathian Mountains on a stormy winter night. He is not hunting game but rather his enemy, Georg Znaeym. The two men are enemies because of a long-standing family feud. Two generations ago, their families went to court over who owned that particular strip of land. While the court ruled in favor of the von Gradwitz family, the Znaeym family still disputes their claim. Decades of arguing and poaching have led to this confrontation between Ulrich and Georg, who are the current heads of their respective families and bitter rivals since childhood.