"The Interlopers," a short story by Saki (H.H. Munro), tells the tale of two feuding families, the Ulenspiegels and the Znaeyms, who have been engaged in a bitter land dispute for generations. The story takes place in the Carpathian Mountains, where the two families have set up camp in an effort to lay claim to a piece of land known as the "Hunting Ground."
The story begins with the two main characters, Georg Znaeym and Ulrich von Gradwitz, both of whom are determined to prove their ownership of the land. They are both armed and prepared for a fight, and they spend their days patrolling the boundaries of their respective territories.
One night, while on patrol, Georg and Ulrich come face to face in the Hunting Ground. They are both armed and ready for a showdown, but before they can come to blows, they are interrupted by a pack of wolves. The two men are forced to put aside their differences and work together in order to survive the night.
As they huddle together, trying to keep warm and fend off the wolves, Georg and Ulrich begin to see each other in a different light. They realize that they have more in common than they had previously thought, and they begin to talk about their families and the long-standing feud that has kept them at odds for so many years.
In the end, the two men come to the realization that their feud has been foolish and that they should put aside their differences and make peace. However, before they can put their plan into action, they are interrupted by a tree that falls and traps Ulrich beneath it. Georg is unable to free him, and Ulrich dies, leaving Georg to mourn the loss of his former enemy and to contemplate the futility of their feud.
"The Interlopers" is a poignant tale of two men who are brought together by circumstance and who come to see the error of their ways. It is a story about the destructive power of hatred and the importance of forgiveness and understanding. Through the characters of Georg and Ulrich, Saki illustrates the idea that even the most bitter of enemies can find common ground if they are willing to set aside their differences and work together.
