After first meeting General Zaroff, in Richard Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game," Rainsford believes Zaroff to be quite civilized and cosmopolitan. Later, however, he learns the truth: the general is really a sociopathic murderer who hunts men. Zaroff, on the other hand, seems to believe that what he is doing is sport. He boasts about how he takes care of his future prey—sailors from ships that have wrecked on the rocks around the island—in his cellar "training school." He tells Rainsford,

"I treat these visitors with every consideration. They get plenty of good food and exercise. They get into splendid physical condition. You shall see for yourself tomorrow."

When Rainsford rejects Zaroff's invitation to hunt one of these sailors, Zaroff decides to hunt Rainsford. The general even seems giddy to have a chance at matching wits with another big game hunter such as Rainsford:

"Your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and stamina against mine. Outdoor chess! And the stake is not without value, eh?"

To show how sporting he truly is, Zaroff provides Rainsford with food, a good knife, hunting clothes, and moccasins, because, Zaroff asserts, "they leave a poorer trail." Indeed, the moccasins do help Rainsford, who eventually outwits the general and kills him in his bedroom.