illustration of a wolf standing in the forest looking toward a fallen tree that has pinned a man underneath

The Interlopers

by Saki

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Student Question

What condition does the fallen tree leave each man in "The Interlopers"?

Expert Answers

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Ulrich is pinned under a tree. In particular, his legs are crushed, and he knows that he cannot move.  According to the text, his feet would have been broken too, but his heavy boots saved him. His arms are also tangled in the branches. There is no way that he can extricate himself.

Beside him is Georg Znaeym. He is pinned down as well. The text does not situate or describe how he is pinned down, but he is. There is another detail. There is blood on his face and it is obscuring his vision.

So, both men are not in good condition.  They probably have a few broken bones, and they are alone in the woods in the midst of the harsh elements. If no one finds them, they will die. That said they have enough energy and hatred left to despise each other.  So, we can say that at least they have their mental abilities in tact. 

Here is how Saki describes the situation:

Ulrich von Gradwitz found himself stretched on the ground, one arm numb beneath him and the other held almost as helplessly in a tight tangle of forked branches, while both legs were pinned beneath the fallen mass. His heavy shooting boots had saved his feet from being crushed to pieces, but if his fractures were not as serious as they might have been, at least it was evident that he could not move from his present position till someone came to release him.

At his side, so near that under ordinary circumstances he could almost have touched him, lay Georg Znaeym, alive and struggling, but obviously as helplessly pinioned down as himself.

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Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym are pinned under the fallen beech trees, and they are badly injured.

  • Ulrich von Gradwitz has one arm that is made numb because it is beneath him; his other hand is nearly as helpless as it is caught in tangled and bent branches. His two legs are pinned beneath the fallen limbs, making his running away impossible.  His feet are not crushed, only because he has worn heavy shoes, yet they are fractured. Blood trickles down his face.
  • Georg Znaeym, too, has his arms and legs pinioned under the tree. His arms are made helpless because they are held under him. He, too, is blinded by the blood that trickles down into his eyes.

Ironically trapped together with one another because both have hesitated to shoot for a civilized instant when they have been vis-à-vis, the two enemies eventually reconcile their differences after von Gradwitz offers Znaeym his friendship: 

"Neighbour, if you will help me to bury the old quarrel I - I will ask you to be my friend."

"I have changed my mind about things too.... Ulrich von Gradwitz, I will be your friend."

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