The general nodded. "The biggest."
"Really?"
"Oh, it isn't here naturally, of course. I have to stock the island."
"What have you imported, general?" Rainsford asked. "Tigers?"
The general smiled. "No," he said. "Hunting tigers ceased to interest me
some years ago. I exhausted their possibilities, you see. No thrill left
in tigers, no real danger. I live for danger, Mr. Rainsford."
The general took from his pocket a gold cigarette case and offered his
guest a long black cigarette with a silver tip; it was perfumed and gave
off a smell like incense.
"We will have some capital hunting, you and I," said the general. "I
shall be most glad to have your society."
"But what game--" began Rainsford.
"I'll tell you," said the general. "You will be amused, I know. I think
I may say, in all modesty, that I have done a rare thing. I have
invented a new sensation. May I pour you another glass of port?"
"Thank you, general."
The general filled both glasses, and said, "God makes some men poets.
Some He makes kings, some beggars. Me He made a hunter. My hand was made
for the trigger, my father said. He was a very rich man with a quarter
of a million acres in the Crimea, and he was an ardent sportsman. When I
was only five years old he gave me a little gun, specially made in
Moscow for me, to shoot sparrows with. When I shot some of his prize
turkeys with it, he did not punish me; he complimented me on my
marksmanship. I killed my first bear in the Caucasus when I was ten. My
whole life has been one prolonged hunt. I went into the army--it was
expected of noblemen's sons--and for a time commanded a division of
Cossack cavalry, but my real interest was always the hunt. I have hunted
every kind of game in every land. It would be impossible for me to tell
you how many animals I have killed."
The general puffed at his cigarette.
"After the debacle in Russia I left the country, for it was imprudent
for an officer of the Czar to stay there. Many noble Russians lost
everything. I, luckily, had invested heavily in American securities, so
I shall never have to open a tearoom in Monte Carlo or drive a taxi in
Paris. Naturally, I continued to hunt--grizzliest in your Rockies,
crocodiles in the Ganges, rhinoceroses in East Africa. It was in Africa
that the Cape buffalo hit me and laid me up for six months. As soon as I
recovered I started for the Amazon to hunt jaguars, for I had heard they
were unusually cunning. They weren't." The Cossack sighed. "They were no
match at all for a hunter with his wits about him, and a high-powered
rifle. I was bitterly disappointed. I was lying in my tent with a
splitting headache one night when a terrible thought pushed its way into
my mind. Hunting was beginning to bore me! And hunting, remember, had
been my life. I have heard that in America businessmen often go to
pieces when they give up the business that has been their life."
"Yes, that's so," said Rainsford.
The general smiled. "I had no wish to go to pieces," he said. "I must do
something. Now, mine is an analytical mind, Mr. Rainsford. Doubtless
that is why I enjoy the problems of the chase."
The general nodded. "The biggest.""Really?""Oh, it isn't here naturally, of course. I have to stock the island.""What have you imported, general?" Rainsford asked. "Tigers?"The general smiled. "No," he said. "Hunting tigers ceased to interest mesome years ago. I exhausted their possibilities, you see. No thrill leftin tigers, no real danger. I live for danger, Mr. Rainsford."The general took from his pocket a gold cigarette case and offered hisguest a long black cigarette with a silver tip; it was perfumed and gaveoff a smell like incense."We will have some capital hunting, you and I," said the general. "Ishall be most glad to have your society.""But what game--" began Rainsford."I'll tell you," said the general. "You will be amused, I know. I thinkI may say, in all modesty, that I have done a rare thing. I haveinvented a new sensation. May I pour you another glass of port?""Thank you, general."The general filled both glasses, and said, "God makes some men poets.Some He makes kings, some beggars. Me He made a hunter. My hand was madefor the trigger, my father said. He was a very rich man with a quarterof a million acres in the Crimea, and he was an ardent sportsman. When Iwas only five years old he gave me a little gun, specially made inMoscow for me, to shoot sparrows with. When I shot some of his prizeturkeys with it, he did not punish me; he complimented me on mymarksmanship. I killed my first bear in the Caucasus when I was ten. Mywhole life has been one prolonged hunt. I went into the army--it wasexpected of noblemen's sons--and for a time commanded a division ofCossack cavalry, but my real interest was always the hunt. I have huntedevery kind of game in every land. It would be impossible for me to tellyou how many animals I have killed."The general puffed at his cigarette."After the debacle in Russia I left the country, for it was imprudentfor an officer of the Czar to stay there. Many noble Russians losteverything. I, luckily, had invested heavily in American securities, soI shall never have to open a tearoom in Monte Carlo or drive a taxi inParis. Naturally, I continued to hunt--grizzliest in your Rockies,crocodiles in the Ganges, rhinoceroses in East Africa. It was in Africathat the Cape buffalo hit me and laid me up for six months. As soon as Irecovered I started for the Amazon to hunt jaguars, for I had heard theywere unusually cunning. They weren't." The Cossack sighed. "They were nomatch at all for a hunter with his wits about him, and a high-poweredrifle. I was bitterly disappointed. I was lying in my tent with asplitting headache one night when a terrible thought pushed its way intomy mind. Hunting was beginning to bore me! And hunting, remember, hadbeen my life. I have heard that in America businessmen often go topieces when they give up the business that has been their life." "Yes, that's so," said Rainsford.The general smiled. "I had no wish to go to pieces," he said. "I must dosomething. Now, mine is an analytical mind, Mr. Rainsford. Doubtlessthat is why I enjoy the problems of the chase."
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