May 24, 2024 • 29 mins
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(00:04):
Arm a worried about the price ofbutter and eggs, fed up with a
housing shortage, want to get awayfrom it all. CBS offers you a
escape. You are alone and unarmedin the green hell of a Caribbean jungle.
(00:36):
You're being trailed by a peck offiercely hungry dogs and a mad hunter
armed for the killed. A madhunter who believes that you, a human
being, are the most Dangerous Game. The Columbia Broadcasting System and That's Affiliated
Stations present Escape, produced by WilliamN. Robson and directed tonight by Richard
(00:56):
Sandville. Escape carefully planned to freeyou from the four walls of today.
Free you for a half hour ofhigh adventure. Tonight, I escaped to
an island in the Caribbean and theweird sportsmanship of a madman. As Richard
(01:17):
Klo tells it in his Unforgettable story, The Most Dangerous Game. My name
is Rainsford. You may have heardof me. I make my living hunting
(01:37):
big game for many of the majormuseums of the world, guiding parties of
sportsmen on safari in Africa, Tibetin South America. Perhaps you've had occasion
to run across some of my books, But even if you have, there's
one incident you won't find described inthem, the full story of my most
terrible hunt. It all began onboard a private yacht and route to Rio
(02:06):
Withney. My host and I weresmoking our pipes on deck, lounging back
in steamer chairs, enjoying the sensuousdrowsiness of the warm night. Eh.
Good dinner, Eh, excellent gait. I ate too much though? Care
for some gin? Rummy? Ohno, I don't care a move all
right er. There's a ruther largeisland off there the right somewhere. It's
(02:31):
uh something of a mystery. Really, I didn't know what island is it?
The old charts call it ship trapisland. Suggestive name, isn't it?
Sailors have a curious dread of theplace, some superstition. I can't
see it. Well, you havegood eyes, but even you can't see
(02:51):
four miles or so through a moonlessCaribbean night. No, not even four
yards. It is dark, isn'tit. It'll be light enough and real
well, by the way, Ihope the guns have come from parties.
We should have some good jaguar huntingup the Amazon great sport hunting less than
the world for the hunter, notfor the jaguar. Why not, they've
(03:14):
no understanding even so, I ratherthink they understand one thing. Fear,
the fear of pain, the fearof death. Huh oh, Rod Whitney,
who cares? How the jaggar field? Perhaps the jaguar does. Oh,
you're a big game hunter, nota philosopher. Look, the world
(03:34):
is made up of two classes,the hunter and the hundred. We're lucky
enough to be the hunters. Doyou think we've passed that island yet and
can't tell them the dark? Ihope? So? Why? Oh?
The place has a reputation, abad one cannibals hardly even cannibals wouldn't live
in such an isolated spot. Butit's gotten into sailor's legends somehow. Did
(03:59):
you know the crew seemed jumpy todayas they were? A bit's strange now
that you mentioned. Yes, it'sa sort of dread, a kind of
mental chill. I'll be hanged ifI haven't felt it myself. Oh,
pure imagination. But one superstitious sailorcan infect the whole ship's company with this
fear. Maybe sometimes sailors have anextra sense, which tells them when they're
(04:23):
in danger. Enough of that,I think I'll turn in. I'm not
sleepy. I'll just have another pipe. Oh, good night man, see
you in the morning. Yes,good night with me. It was very
(04:44):
dark, so dark I could haveslept without closing my eyes. The night
would have been my eyelids. Ipuffed at my pipe, got drowsy.
Then I was wide awake. Agun out there in the water, A
gun. I sprang to the rail, strained my eyes in the direction of
those shots, but I couldn't seea thing. I leaped up on the
(05:04):
rail to get better elevation, andmy pipe striking. A rope was knocked
out of my mouth. I lungedfor it, and tight fingers closed around
my heart as I realized I'd reachedtoo far and lost my balance. Ah.
The blood warm waters of the Caribbeanclosed over my head. When I
(05:27):
came to the surface, the washfrom the speeding yacht slapped salt water into
my mouth, making me gag andstrangling me. I coughed and spat it
out and found my voice help helphalt. The lights from the boat moved
steadily away. They quickly became faintfireflies and then they were blotted out by
(05:48):
the night. I struggled out ofmy clothes and turned to the direction from
which I'd heard those shots. Ibegan swimming, slowly, conserving my strength.
For an endless time, I foughtthe sea. Then I began to
count my strokes, thought I couldpossibly do another one hundred before someone was
(06:12):
shooting game, almost at my veryelbow. It seemed gave me fresh vitality.
I swam towards the sound. ThenI was in the breakers. In
another moment, I was dragging myselffrom the swirling waters, pulling myself hand
over hand onto the narrow beach,gasping, panting for breath. I saw
that the dense jungle came down tothe edge of the cliff, and I
was on land, unblessed land,say on the soft, warm sand.
(06:46):
I awoke late in the afternoon,a sharp hunger picking at me. As
I slowly came to my feet,I saw, not far from where I'd
been lying, signs of a terriblestruggle in the underbrush that sloped so sharply
to the beach, some wounded thing. Evidently a large animal had thrashed about
there in its death fight, almostat my feet was a small glittering object
(07:09):
and empty cattridge from twenty two.That was hard. The hunter had had
his nerve to tackle a large brutetso small a gun. I examined the
ground closely and found what I'd hopedfor, the print of hunting boots.
They pointed up toward a recess inthe cliff, and I hurried quickly after
them, for night was beginning tosettle on the island. It was already
(07:35):
dark when I came upon it.First I thought it was a village.
There were so many lights, Butas I came closer, I saw that
all the lights were in one building, a chateau on a high bluff.
In a few moments, my barefeet were patting up stone steps, and
I stood in front of the massiveoaken door. Good evening. Please don't
(08:07):
be alarmed. There's no need forthat gun. I'm no Robbert. It
sounds silly, but I fell offa yacht. My name is Sanger Rainsford
of New York City. He wascertainly not alarmed by me. This giant,
who stood facing me the revolver inhis hand, continued to point steadily
at my chest, and the manbehind it was solidly built and black bearded
(08:31):
to the waist and silent. Hewaved me in with the gun and closed
the door behind me. I wasin a huge hall, but there was
no time to look around. Anotherman was coming down the broad marble stairs,
an erect slender man in evening clothes. I stepped toward him. I've
(08:52):
just been explaining to this chap thatI've had an accident. My name is
Sanger Rainsford. It's a great pleasureand honor to welcome mister Rainsford, the
celeb rated hunter to my home.Well, thank you. I've read your
book. I'm hunting snow lepards inTibet. I'm General Zarov. Believe me,
General. I'm very happy to seeher. Although Ivan, you can
put down that gun. This gentlemanis a guess. Ivan is an incredibly
(09:16):
strong fellow, but he has themisfortune to be a mute, a simple
thing, but a bit of asavage. I'm even happy to see him.
Come. We should not be chattinghere. You want clothes, food,
dressed, you shall have them.This is a most RESTful spot.
I can't tell you how grateful Ihave. It is my pleasure follow Ivan,
(09:37):
if you please mister Rainsford, Iwas about to have my dinner,
but it can wait. I thinkmy clothes will fit you. I followed
the man into a huge beam ceilingbedroom with a canopy bed large enough for
six men. Ivan silently laid outan evening suit, and as I put
(09:58):
it on, I noticed that camefrom a London tailor. Hmmm, and
Whitney called this place too isolated,even for cannibals. I went downstairs and
sat down opposite Zarav in a diningroom that suggested a baronial hall of feudal
times. The food was excellent.Perhaps you were surprised that I recognized your
(10:20):
name, but I read all bookson hunting published in English, French and
Russian. I have but one passionin life, and that is the hunt.
Why I noticed you have some wonderfulheads here. That cape buffalo over
there is the largest I've ever seen. Oh that fellow, Yes, he
charged me, threw me against thetree, fractured my skull, but I
got the brute. I've always thoughtthe Cape buffalo the most dangerous of all
(10:43):
big game. No, the Capebuffalo is not the most dangerous. No,
here in my preserve, on thisisland, I hunt more dangerous.
Game is the big game on thisisland, the biggest really, Oh,
it is not here. Naturally Ihad to stock the island. Well,
what have you imported? General?Tigers? No hunting tigers seas to interest
(11:05):
me when I exhausted their possibilities.There is no trail left in tigers,
no real danger. I live fordanger. Cigarette mister, answer please,
we will have some capital hunting youand I. But what gain? I'll
tell you? You will be amused. I know. I think I may
(11:26):
say in all modesty that I havedone a rare thing. I have invented
a new sensation. May I putyou another glass of poetry? I have
been a hunter all my life,but after many years of enjoyment, I
found that the hunt no longer fascinatedme. It had ceased to be what
(11:46):
you call a sporting proposition. Ialways got my quarry always, and there
is no greater bore than perfection thanyou were a very good hunter. General.
No. No, I had merelydiscovered that the animal has nothing but
his legs and his instincts. Instinctis no match for reason. When I
realized this, it was a tragicmoment for me. As I told you,
(12:11):
I loved to hunt, and thenit came to me as an inspiration
what I must do, and thatwas I had to invent a new animal
to hunt, a new animal.Why your joke, I assure you,
I am not sir, a newanimal, And so I found one.
I bought this island, built thishouse, and here I do my hunting.
(12:35):
The island is perfect for my purpose. There are jungles with a maze
of trails in them, hills,swarms, and the animal generals are It
supplies me with the most intense excitementof all. I never grow bored now,
for I have a quarry with whichI can match my wits, an
ideal quarry with courage, cunning,and above all reason. But no animal
(12:58):
can reason, my dear fellow,there is one that can. I can't
believe you're seriously what is some grislyjo Of course I'm serious. I'm speaking
of hunting. You're speaking of murder. Surely your experience isn't the noise we
can don't cold blooded murder? Wager, you forget your notion when you go
hunting with me? Are you agenuine you? Thrilling stuff for you,
(13:22):
mister Rains, Thank you. I'ma hunter, not a murderer. Oh
dear me, that unfortunate word again. But I hunt the scum of the
earth, sailors from tramp ships,lascars, mong What do you get?
This island is called ship trap.There is a row of lights out there
on the reef, which indicate achannel where there is none on the rocks.
(13:43):
I control the lights from my tower. You wreck the ships, and
then you shoot down the men.But I treat my visitors with every consideration.
They have plenty of good food andexercise. They get into splendid physical
condition. You shall see for yourselftomorrow. Would you like some more thought?
What shall I see tomorrow? We'llvisit my training school. It's in
(14:03):
the cellar. I have about adozen there now, sailor and theory a
lot, I regret to say,more accustomed to the deck than the jungle
ivan. You'll have a coffee,now, thick Turkish coffee trains for very
good. No, is your appetitequite gone? No coffee? Thank you?
Just one? Even t is agamey see. I suggest to one
(14:26):
of them that we go hunting.I give him three hours start. I
am to follow, armed only withpistol of smallest caliber and range. My
quarry eludes me for three whole days. He wins the game. If I
find him, he loses. Andif he refuses to be hunted, Oh,
I give him the option. Ifhe won't hunt, I turned him
(14:48):
over to Ivan here Evan once servedas official executioner to the Great White Czar,
and he has his own ideas ofsport. Invariably they choose the hunt
and if they win. To date, I have not lost. I don't
wish you to think me a bragger. Once did almost win. Eventually I
had to use the dogs. Juststep over here to the window moment.
(15:11):
I want you to see my courtyard. Go ahead, mister Raineford, open
the window. Please that I havea dozen as you can say. They
are let out at seven every night. If anyone should try to get into
my house or out of it,it would be regrettable. And now I
(15:33):
want to show you my new collectionof heads. Will you come with me
to the library. I hope you'llexcuse me tonight, I'm really not feeling
it all. Well, Oh,I am sorry. You need a good
RESTful night's sleep. Tomorrow you'll feellike a new man, and then we'll
hunt. I wonder at the promisingprospect. But I was already hurrying from
the room and up the marble stairway, him calling after me. So you
(15:54):
can't go with me tonight. Iexpect rather fair sport, a big,
strong date. I from my costof Africa. The bed was good.
I was tired, but I didn'tsleep. I didn't toss her turn,
I didn't move. I just layrigidly in one spot, my eyes on
(16:15):
the ceiling, my arms tight againstmy side, my breathing slow and heavy,
my mind empty, waiting, waiting. The inky black was just beginning
to dissolve, A thin line ofgray was just beginning to seep insidiously into
my room. When Tsarov found hisquarry, then I suppose I slept.
(16:44):
When I awoke, the sun's shadowswere already slanting through my room. Must
have been well afternoon. I camedown to find General Tzarav pouring himself a
glass of brandy by the sideboard.Mister Rainsford feeling better, I trust,
Yes, I wish I could saythe same. No, I'm not well.
Hunting was no good last night.He made a straight trail, offered
(17:06):
no problems at all. General,I want to leave the island at once,
mister Rainsford, tonight we will huntyou and I no general, I've
told you I will not hunt.I beg you to reconsider. My idea
of sport is much more diverting thanevah. Do you mean that? Yeah?
(17:30):
You and I. It's really aninspiration, a foeman worthy of my
steel. At last, you'll findthis game worth playing. Rainsford, your
brain against mine, your woodcraft againstmine, your strength and stamina against mine,
outdoor chance and the steak is notwithout value. And if I win,
(17:53):
if I do not find you bymidnight of the third day, then
I'm defeated. My sloop will placeyou on the mainland near it Own.
Oh, you can trust me.I give you my word as a gentleman
and as a sportsman. Of course, you in turn must agree to say
nothing of your visit here. I'dagree to say nothing of the kind.
Well that okay, Why discuss itnow? Three days from now we can
(18:17):
chat about it over a bottle ofClicko. Unless and I listen, rainfall
even will supply you with hunting clothes, food, And if I suggest you
wear moccasins, they live a poortrail. I suggest to you avoid the
big swamp in the southeast corner ofthe island. There's a quick sum there,
and now you want to start nowthat I shall not follow until dusk.
(18:38):
Hunting at night is so much moreexciting than by day, don't you
think, mister Rainsford, Good hunting. I kept telling myself through tight teeth
that I had to keep my head, keep my head. My first idea
had been to put distance between myselfand Zareth, and so I plunged into
(19:02):
the jungle in a blind panic.Before long I shook it off and stopped
straight. Flight was futile. Itwould only bring me out to the sea.
Then I hit upon the idea ofgiving him a trail to follow.
I would begin our dangerous game byplaying the fox. For more than two
hours, I went through the tracklesswilderness, executing a series of intricate loops,
(19:23):
doubling again and again on my trail. Night found me leg weary,
with hands and face lashed by thebranches, and needed rest badly. And
having played the fox, I decidednow to play the cat. I climbed
into the crutch of a huge tree. An apprehensive night crawled slowly by like
(19:52):
a wounded snake. Then at dawning. A startled bird suddenly screamed, and
I flattened against the ball. Througha screen of leaves as thick as tapestry,
I saw the General came slowly,his eyes fixed on the ground almost
beneath my tree. He paused andwent down on one knee, studying the
ground. I would have gone fromleaping the way a panther does, except
(20:15):
for the small automatic in his righthand. After a seemingly endless time,
he came back to his feet.His eyes left the ground, and traveled
inch by inch up the tree.I froze, every muscle tensed for a
spring. But the hunter's eyes stoppedjust before they reached the limb on which
I lay. A slow smile spreadover his brown face. Oh, Rainsford,
(20:41):
where can you have gone? Whereverare you? You clever dog?
I simply must go home and liedown a bit to think this home.
The pender bear burst hotly from mylungs as he turned back and disappeared.
So the General was playing with me, was saving me for another day's sport.
(21:04):
Zarav was the cat and I wasthe mouse. In that moment,
I knew the real meaning of terror. I slipped from the tree and set
off into the woods. I'd onlygone a few hundred yards when I found
a huge dead tree leaning against asmaller living one. I pulled my knife
from its sheath and set to work. When the job was finished, I
(21:30):
threw myself down behind a log onehundred feet away. How long I waited,
I don't know. It seemed likedays. It's probably only a few
hours. Then he was coming again, with the sureness of a bloodhot Nothing.
Nothing escaped those searching black eyes.No crushed blade of grass, no
bent twig, no mark, howeverfaint in the moss. He was so
(21:52):
intent on his stalking he was uponthe thing before he saw it, his
foot touching the protruding branch that wasthe trigger. The dead tree delicately adjusted
to rest, and the cut livingone crashed heavily to the earth. And
I waited yet another moment, notduring to look up and see if it
really had done its work. Rainspot, if you're within the sult of my
(22:15):
boys, let me congratulate you.There aren't many men who know how to
make a melee man catcher. Hey, I'm a lucky man rate, but
my replaces are still good. Didyou see me spring back even while it
was Polly Rainsford, can you hearme? You're proving interesting. I'm going
back now to have my woundress.Don't be alarmed. It's only a slight
(22:37):
one. I shall be back.I shall be back. It was dark,
and I've been going for hours.The vegetation became raker. Insects were
biting me savagely, and when mudbegan sucking viciously at my feet like giant
(23:00):
leeches, I knew where I wasfo to enter, the death swamp with
its quicksand however, the softness ofthe earth gave me an idea. I
stepped back about a dozen paces outof the quicksand and began to dig.
When the pit was above my shoulders, I climbed out, and from some
hard saplings, I cut steaks,sharpening them to a fine point. I
(23:22):
planted the stakes at the bottom ofthe pit, with their points up.
With flying fingers, I wove arough carpet of weeds and branches, and
with it I covered the mouth ofthe pit. Then wet with sweat and
aching with tiredness, I crouched behindthe stump of a lightning blasted tree.
I heard the padding sound of feeton the soft earth. I knew he
was coming. The night wind broughtme the perfume of the General's black cigarette.
(23:48):
Although I could see nothing, seemedto me that he was coming with
unusual swiftness, that he was notfeeling his way along foot by fit.
In one brief moment I lived anentire year. Then I heard the sh
sharp crackle of breaking branches, thecover of the pit gaping. You've done
well, rains, very well.Where did you get the tie? Your
(24:14):
Burmese tiger pit has climbed one ofmy best dogs, and so you score
again. I must see what youcan do now against my whole pack.
He went away again, but Ijust lay there in the swamp that night.
At daybreak, I was awakened bya distant sound, faint and wavering,
(24:37):
the baying of a pack of hounds. I went up into a tree
down a water course, not aquarter of a mile away. I could
see the bush moving. I strainedmy eyes and saw the lean figure of
General Zarath just ahead of him.I made out the gigantic evon, folding
the pack in leash. I preparedfor the native trick I've learned in Uganda.
(25:00):
I slipped from the tree, caughthold of a springy, young sapling,
and to it fastened my knife,its blade pointing down the trail with
a bit of wild grapevine. Itied back the sapling and ran for my
life. The hounds hid the freshscent and raised their voices, and I
knew how an animal at bay mustfeel. Even as I ran, the
clamor of the houns suddenly ceased withit. My heart stopped, for that
(25:21):
meant it reached the knife. Iclimbed excitedly up a tree and looked back,
and hope died in my brain.The General was still on his feet,
even however, was not. Theknife, driven by the recoil of
the springing tree, had done itswork. Then the dogs took up the
cry again, and I was onthe ground once more nr Ner. I
(25:45):
panted the words over and over asI fled headlong. A blue gap showed
through the tree stead ahead. Iforced myself up on towards the gap and
reached the sea. I lay twentyfeet below me, rumbling and hissing.
I stood a moment, poised overthe edge. I heard the hounds.
I knew it was the end.Then I leap or into the water.
(26:17):
Well, it's been a busy day, Adam, a busy day. Oh,
down, Adam, down the matter, my boy hungry? All right,
catch it's quite a day. Notperfect, of course, two slight
annoyances. One is it will bedifficult to replace even and the other,
(26:40):
well, our quarry escaped us,didn't he have them? Then? Of
course the American didn't really play thegame, so we won't count it.
We won't count it at all.All right, my boy, that's enough
for now. Aren't you go withthe rest? Better lot than another time?
(27:00):
Mm hmmm h m hmmmm mmm,rainfa, how did you get here?
I swam? I found that quickerthan walking through the jungle. I
congratulate you. You have won thegame, No, General, and of
(27:23):
course you have. I'm still abeast at bay. Get ready, General,
Zarah, I see splendid. Oneof us is to furnish a meal
for the hounds. The other willsleep in this very excellent bed. Good
(27:45):
rains good, Oh God was right. Never before in my life had I
slept in a better bed. Escapeis produced by William N. Robson and
(28:25):
was directed tonight by Richard Sanville.You have escaped tonight in the Richard Connell
Story. The Most Dangerous Game adaptedfor radio by Irving Ravitch, with Paul
Priest as Sango, Rainsford and HansConried as General zarof The special musical score
was conceived and conducted by Cy Fure. Next week, you're sitting at the
(28:45):
trattle of a speeding locomotives screaming aroundthe curves of a mountain cords, racing
against time with death at your shoulder. Next week you're the engineer of the
Yellow Male. Next week, CBSoffers you a escape with Frank Kate Spearman's
exciting story of railroading the Run ofthe Yellow Male. Until the same time
(29:08):
next week. Then goodnight. Thisis CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting OFFISTO
Arm a worried about the price ofbutter and eggs, fed up with a
housing shortage, want to get awayfrom it all. CBS offers you a
escape. You are alone and unarmedin the green hell of a Caribbean jungle.
(00:36):
You're being trailed by a peck offiercely hungry dogs and a mad hunter
armed for the killed. A madhunter who believes that you, a human
being, are the most Dangerous Game. The Columbia Broadcasting System and That's Affiliated
Stations present Escape, produced by WilliamN. Robson and directed tonight by Richard
(00:56):
Sandville. Escape carefully planned to freeyou from the four walls of today.
Free you for a half hour ofhigh adventure. Tonight, I escaped to
an island in the Caribbean and theweird sportsmanship of a madman. As Richard
(01:17):
Klo tells it in his Unforgettable story, The Most Dangerous Game. My name
is Rainsford. You may have heardof me. I make my living hunting
(01:37):
big game for many of the majormuseums of the world, guiding parties of
sportsmen on safari in Africa, Tibetin South America. Perhaps you've had occasion
to run across some of my books, But even if you have, there's
one incident you won't find described inthem, the full story of my most
terrible hunt. It all began onboard a private yacht and route to Rio
(02:06):
Withney. My host and I weresmoking our pipes on deck, lounging back
in steamer chairs, enjoying the sensuousdrowsiness of the warm night. Eh.
Good dinner, Eh, excellent gait. I ate too much though? Care
for some gin? Rummy? Ohno, I don't care a move all
right er. There's a ruther largeisland off there the right somewhere. It's
(02:31):
uh something of a mystery. Really, I didn't know what island is it?
The old charts call it ship trapisland. Suggestive name, isn't it?
Sailors have a curious dread of theplace, some superstition. I can't
see it. Well, you havegood eyes, but even you can't see
(02:51):
four miles or so through a moonlessCaribbean night. No, not even four
yards. It is dark, isn'tit. It'll be light enough and real
well, by the way, Ihope the guns have come from parties.
We should have some good jaguar huntingup the Amazon great sport hunting less than
the world for the hunter, notfor the jaguar. Why not, they've
(03:14):
no understanding even so, I ratherthink they understand one thing. Fear,
the fear of pain, the fearof death. Huh oh, Rod Whitney,
who cares? How the jaggar field? Perhaps the jaguar does. Oh,
you're a big game hunter, nota philosopher. Look, the world
(03:34):
is made up of two classes,the hunter and the hundred. We're lucky
enough to be the hunters. Doyou think we've passed that island yet and
can't tell them the dark? Ihope? So? Why? Oh?
The place has a reputation, abad one cannibals hardly even cannibals wouldn't live
in such an isolated spot. Butit's gotten into sailor's legends somehow. Did
(03:59):
you know the crew seemed jumpy todayas they were? A bit's strange now
that you mentioned. Yes, it'sa sort of dread, a kind of
mental chill. I'll be hanged ifI haven't felt it myself. Oh,
pure imagination. But one superstitious sailorcan infect the whole ship's company with this
fear. Maybe sometimes sailors have anextra sense, which tells them when they're
(04:23):
in danger. Enough of that,I think I'll turn in. I'm not
sleepy. I'll just have another pipe. Oh, good night man, see
you in the morning. Yes,good night with me. It was very
(04:44):
dark, so dark I could haveslept without closing my eyes. The night
would have been my eyelids. Ipuffed at my pipe, got drowsy.
Then I was wide awake. Agun out there in the water, A
gun. I sprang to the rail, strained my eyes in the direction of
those shots, but I couldn't seea thing. I leaped up on the
(05:04):
rail to get better elevation, andmy pipe striking. A rope was knocked
out of my mouth. I lungedfor it, and tight fingers closed around
my heart as I realized I'd reachedtoo far and lost my balance. Ah.
The blood warm waters of the Caribbeanclosed over my head. When I
(05:27):
came to the surface, the washfrom the speeding yacht slapped salt water into
my mouth, making me gag andstrangling me. I coughed and spat it
out and found my voice help helphalt. The lights from the boat moved
steadily away. They quickly became faintfireflies and then they were blotted out by
(05:48):
the night. I struggled out ofmy clothes and turned to the direction from
which I'd heard those shots. Ibegan swimming, slowly, conserving my strength.
For an endless time, I foughtthe sea. Then I began to
count my strokes, thought I couldpossibly do another one hundred before someone was
(06:12):
shooting game, almost at my veryelbow. It seemed gave me fresh vitality.
I swam towards the sound. ThenI was in the breakers. In
another moment, I was dragging myselffrom the swirling waters, pulling myself hand
over hand onto the narrow beach,gasping, panting for breath. I saw
that the dense jungle came down tothe edge of the cliff, and I
was on land, unblessed land,say on the soft, warm sand.
(06:46):
I awoke late in the afternoon,a sharp hunger picking at me. As
I slowly came to my feet,I saw, not far from where I'd
been lying, signs of a terriblestruggle in the underbrush that sloped so sharply
to the beach, some wounded thing. Evidently a large animal had thrashed about
there in its death fight, almostat my feet was a small glittering object
(07:09):
and empty cattridge from twenty two.That was hard. The hunter had had
his nerve to tackle a large brutetso small a gun. I examined the
ground closely and found what I'd hopedfor, the print of hunting boots.
They pointed up toward a recess inthe cliff, and I hurried quickly after
them, for night was beginning tosettle on the island. It was already
(07:35):
dark when I came upon it.First I thought it was a village.
There were so many lights, Butas I came closer, I saw that
all the lights were in one building, a chateau on a high bluff.
In a few moments, my barefeet were patting up stone steps, and
I stood in front of the massiveoaken door. Good evening. Please don't
(08:07):
be alarmed. There's no need forthat gun. I'm no Robbert. It
sounds silly, but I fell offa yacht. My name is Sanger Rainsford
of New York City. He wascertainly not alarmed by me. This giant,
who stood facing me the revolver inhis hand, continued to point steadily
at my chest, and the manbehind it was solidly built and black bearded
(08:31):
to the waist and silent. Hewaved me in with the gun and closed
the door behind me. I wasin a huge hall, but there was
no time to look around. Anotherman was coming down the broad marble stairs,
an erect slender man in evening clothes. I stepped toward him. I've
(08:52):
just been explaining to this chap thatI've had an accident. My name is
Sanger Rainsford. It's a great pleasureand honor to welcome mister Rainsford, the
celeb rated hunter to my home.Well, thank you. I've read your
book. I'm hunting snow lepards inTibet. I'm General Zarov. Believe me,
General. I'm very happy to seeher. Although Ivan, you can
put down that gun. This gentlemanis a guess. Ivan is an incredibly
(09:16):
strong fellow, but he has themisfortune to be a mute, a simple
thing, but a bit of asavage. I'm even happy to see him.
Come. We should not be chattinghere. You want clothes, food,
dressed, you shall have them.This is a most RESTful spot.
I can't tell you how grateful Ihave. It is my pleasure follow Ivan,
(09:37):
if you please mister Rainsford, Iwas about to have my dinner,
but it can wait. I thinkmy clothes will fit you. I followed
the man into a huge beam ceilingbedroom with a canopy bed large enough for
six men. Ivan silently laid outan evening suit, and as I put
(09:58):
it on, I noticed that camefrom a London tailor. Hmmm, and
Whitney called this place too isolated,even for cannibals. I went downstairs and
sat down opposite Zarav in a diningroom that suggested a baronial hall of feudal
times. The food was excellent.Perhaps you were surprised that I recognized your
(10:20):
name, but I read all bookson hunting published in English, French and
Russian. I have but one passionin life, and that is the hunt.
Why I noticed you have some wonderfulheads here. That cape buffalo over
there is the largest I've ever seen. Oh that fellow, Yes, he
charged me, threw me against thetree, fractured my skull, but I
got the brute. I've always thoughtthe Cape buffalo the most dangerous of all
(10:43):
big game. No, the Capebuffalo is not the most dangerous. No,
here in my preserve, on thisisland, I hunt more dangerous.
Game is the big game on thisisland, the biggest really, Oh,
it is not here. Naturally Ihad to stock the island. Well,
what have you imported? General?Tigers? No hunting tigers seas to interest
(11:05):
me when I exhausted their possibilities.There is no trail left in tigers,
no real danger. I live fordanger. Cigarette mister, answer please,
we will have some capital hunting youand I. But what gain? I'll
tell you? You will be amused. I know. I think I may
(11:26):
say in all modesty that I havedone a rare thing. I have invented
a new sensation. May I putyou another glass of poetry? I have
been a hunter all my life,but after many years of enjoyment, I
found that the hunt no longer fascinatedme. It had ceased to be what
(11:46):
you call a sporting proposition. Ialways got my quarry always, and there
is no greater bore than perfection thanyou were a very good hunter. General.
No. No, I had merelydiscovered that the animal has nothing but
his legs and his instincts. Instinctis no match for reason. When I
realized this, it was a tragicmoment for me. As I told you,
(12:11):
I loved to hunt, and thenit came to me as an inspiration
what I must do, and thatwas I had to invent a new animal
to hunt, a new animal.Why your joke, I assure you,
I am not sir, a newanimal, And so I found one.
I bought this island, built thishouse, and here I do my hunting.
(12:35):
The island is perfect for my purpose. There are jungles with a maze
of trails in them, hills,swarms, and the animal generals are It
supplies me with the most intense excitementof all. I never grow bored now,
for I have a quarry with whichI can match my wits, an
ideal quarry with courage, cunning,and above all reason. But no animal
(12:58):
can reason, my dear fellow,there is one that can. I can't
believe you're seriously what is some grislyjo Of course I'm serious. I'm speaking
of hunting. You're speaking of murder. Surely your experience isn't the noise we
can don't cold blooded murder? Wager, you forget your notion when you go
hunting with me? Are you agenuine you? Thrilling stuff for you,
(13:22):
mister Rains, Thank you. I'ma hunter, not a murderer. Oh
dear me, that unfortunate word again. But I hunt the scum of the
earth, sailors from tramp ships,lascars, mong What do you get?
This island is called ship trap.There is a row of lights out there
on the reef, which indicate achannel where there is none on the rocks.
(13:43):
I control the lights from my tower. You wreck the ships, and
then you shoot down the men.But I treat my visitors with every consideration.
They have plenty of good food andexercise. They get into splendid physical
condition. You shall see for yourselftomorrow. Would you like some more thought?
What shall I see tomorrow? We'llvisit my training school. It's in
(14:03):
the cellar. I have about adozen there now, sailor and theory a
lot, I regret to say,more accustomed to the deck than the jungle
ivan. You'll have a coffee,now, thick Turkish coffee trains for very
good. No, is your appetitequite gone? No coffee? Thank you?
Just one? Even t is agamey see. I suggest to one
(14:26):
of them that we go hunting.I give him three hours start. I
am to follow, armed only withpistol of smallest caliber and range. My
quarry eludes me for three whole days. He wins the game. If I
find him, he loses. Andif he refuses to be hunted, Oh,
I give him the option. Ifhe won't hunt, I turned him
(14:48):
over to Ivan here Evan once servedas official executioner to the Great White Czar,
and he has his own ideas ofsport. Invariably they choose the hunt
and if they win. To date, I have not lost. I don't
wish you to think me a bragger. Once did almost win. Eventually I
had to use the dogs. Juststep over here to the window moment.
(15:11):
I want you to see my courtyard. Go ahead, mister Raineford, open
the window. Please that I havea dozen as you can say. They
are let out at seven every night. If anyone should try to get into
my house or out of it,it would be regrettable. And now I
(15:33):
want to show you my new collectionof heads. Will you come with me
to the library. I hope you'llexcuse me tonight, I'm really not feeling
it all. Well, Oh,I am sorry. You need a good
RESTful night's sleep. Tomorrow you'll feellike a new man, and then we'll
hunt. I wonder at the promisingprospect. But I was already hurrying from
the room and up the marble stairway, him calling after me. So you
(15:54):
can't go with me tonight. Iexpect rather fair sport, a big,
strong date. I from my costof Africa. The bed was good.
I was tired, but I didn'tsleep. I didn't toss her turn,
I didn't move. I just layrigidly in one spot, my eyes on
(16:15):
the ceiling, my arms tight againstmy side, my breathing slow and heavy,
my mind empty, waiting, waiting. The inky black was just beginning
to dissolve, A thin line ofgray was just beginning to seep insidiously into
my room. When Tsarov found hisquarry, then I suppose I slept.
(16:44):
When I awoke, the sun's shadowswere already slanting through my room. Must
have been well afternoon. I camedown to find General Tzarav pouring himself a
glass of brandy by the sideboard.Mister Rainsford feeling better, I trust,
Yes, I wish I could saythe same. No, I'm not well.
Hunting was no good last night.He made a straight trail, offered
(17:06):
no problems at all. General,I want to leave the island at once,
mister Rainsford, tonight we will huntyou and I no general, I've
told you I will not hunt.I beg you to reconsider. My idea
of sport is much more diverting thanevah. Do you mean that? Yeah?
(17:30):
You and I. It's really aninspiration, a foeman worthy of my
steel. At last, you'll findthis game worth playing. Rainsford, your
brain against mine, your woodcraft againstmine, your strength and stamina against mine,
outdoor chance and the steak is notwithout value. And if I win,
(17:53):
if I do not find you bymidnight of the third day, then
I'm defeated. My sloop will placeyou on the mainland near it Own.
Oh, you can trust me.I give you my word as a gentleman
and as a sportsman. Of course, you in turn must agree to say
nothing of your visit here. I'dagree to say nothing of the kind.
Well that okay, Why discuss itnow? Three days from now we can
(18:17):
chat about it over a bottle ofClicko. Unless and I listen, rainfall
even will supply you with hunting clothes, food, And if I suggest you
wear moccasins, they live a poortrail. I suggest to you avoid the
big swamp in the southeast corner ofthe island. There's a quick sum there,
and now you want to start nowthat I shall not follow until dusk.
(18:38):
Hunting at night is so much moreexciting than by day, don't you
think, mister Rainsford, Good hunting. I kept telling myself through tight teeth
that I had to keep my head, keep my head. My first idea
had been to put distance between myselfand Zareth, and so I plunged into
(19:02):
the jungle in a blind panic.Before long I shook it off and stopped
straight. Flight was futile. Itwould only bring me out to the sea.
Then I hit upon the idea ofgiving him a trail to follow.
I would begin our dangerous game byplaying the fox. For more than two
hours, I went through the tracklesswilderness, executing a series of intricate loops,
(19:23):
doubling again and again on my trail. Night found me leg weary,
with hands and face lashed by thebranches, and needed rest badly. And
having played the fox, I decidednow to play the cat. I climbed
into the crutch of a huge tree. An apprehensive night crawled slowly by like
(19:52):
a wounded snake. Then at dawning. A startled bird suddenly screamed, and
I flattened against the ball. Througha screen of leaves as thick as tapestry,
I saw the General came slowly,his eyes fixed on the ground almost
beneath my tree. He paused andwent down on one knee, studying the
ground. I would have gone fromleaping the way a panther does, except
(20:15):
for the small automatic in his righthand. After a seemingly endless time,
he came back to his feet.His eyes left the ground, and traveled
inch by inch up the tree.I froze, every muscle tensed for a
spring. But the hunter's eyes stoppedjust before they reached the limb on which
I lay. A slow smile spreadover his brown face. Oh, Rainsford,
(20:41):
where can you have gone? Whereverare you? You clever dog?
I simply must go home and liedown a bit to think this home.
The pender bear burst hotly from mylungs as he turned back and disappeared.
So the General was playing with me, was saving me for another day's sport.
(21:04):
Zarav was the cat and I wasthe mouse. In that moment,
I knew the real meaning of terror. I slipped from the tree and set
off into the woods. I'd onlygone a few hundred yards when I found
a huge dead tree leaning against asmaller living one. I pulled my knife
from its sheath and set to work. When the job was finished, I
(21:30):
threw myself down behind a log onehundred feet away. How long I waited,
I don't know. It seemed likedays. It's probably only a few
hours. Then he was coming again, with the sureness of a bloodhot Nothing.
Nothing escaped those searching black eyes.No crushed blade of grass, no
bent twig, no mark, howeverfaint in the moss. He was so
(21:52):
intent on his stalking he was uponthe thing before he saw it, his
foot touching the protruding branch that wasthe trigger. The dead tree delicately adjusted
to rest, and the cut livingone crashed heavily to the earth. And
I waited yet another moment, notduring to look up and see if it
really had done its work. Rainspot, if you're within the sult of my
(22:15):
boys, let me congratulate you.There aren't many men who know how to
make a melee man catcher. Hey, I'm a lucky man rate, but
my replaces are still good. Didyou see me spring back even while it
was Polly Rainsford, can you hearme? You're proving interesting. I'm going
back now to have my woundress.Don't be alarmed. It's only a slight
(22:37):
one. I shall be back.I shall be back. It was dark,
and I've been going for hours.The vegetation became raker. Insects were
biting me savagely, and when mudbegan sucking viciously at my feet like giant
(23:00):
leeches, I knew where I wasfo to enter, the death swamp with
its quicksand however, the softness ofthe earth gave me an idea. I
stepped back about a dozen paces outof the quicksand and began to dig.
When the pit was above my shoulders, I climbed out, and from some
hard saplings, I cut steaks,sharpening them to a fine point. I
(23:22):
planted the stakes at the bottom ofthe pit, with their points up.
With flying fingers, I wove arough carpet of weeds and branches, and
with it I covered the mouth ofthe pit. Then wet with sweat and
aching with tiredness, I crouched behindthe stump of a lightning blasted tree.
I heard the padding sound of feeton the soft earth. I knew he
was coming. The night wind broughtme the perfume of the General's black cigarette.
(23:48):
Although I could see nothing, seemedto me that he was coming with
unusual swiftness, that he was notfeeling his way along foot by fit.
In one brief moment I lived anentire year. Then I heard the sh
sharp crackle of breaking branches, thecover of the pit gaping. You've done
well, rains, very well.Where did you get the tie? Your
(24:14):
Burmese tiger pit has climbed one ofmy best dogs, and so you score
again. I must see what youcan do now against my whole pack.
He went away again, but Ijust lay there in the swamp that night.
At daybreak, I was awakened bya distant sound, faint and wavering,
(24:37):
the baying of a pack of hounds. I went up into a tree
down a water course, not aquarter of a mile away. I could
see the bush moving. I strainedmy eyes and saw the lean figure of
General Zarath just ahead of him.I made out the gigantic evon, folding
the pack in leash. I preparedfor the native trick I've learned in Uganda.
(25:00):
I slipped from the tree, caughthold of a springy, young sapling,
and to it fastened my knife,its blade pointing down the trail with
a bit of wild grapevine. Itied back the sapling and ran for my
life. The hounds hid the freshscent and raised their voices, and I
knew how an animal at bay mustfeel. Even as I ran, the
clamor of the houns suddenly ceased withit. My heart stopped, for that
(25:21):
meant it reached the knife. Iclimbed excitedly up a tree and looked back,
and hope died in my brain.The General was still on his feet,
even however, was not. Theknife, driven by the recoil of
the springing tree, had done itswork. Then the dogs took up the
cry again, and I was onthe ground once more nr Ner. I
(25:45):
panted the words over and over asI fled headlong. A blue gap showed
through the tree stead ahead. Iforced myself up on towards the gap and
reached the sea. I lay twentyfeet below me, rumbling and hissing.
I stood a moment, poised overthe edge. I heard the hounds.
I knew it was the end.Then I leap or into the water.
(26:17):
Well, it's been a busy day, Adam, a busy day. Oh,
down, Adam, down the matter, my boy hungry? All right,
catch it's quite a day. Notperfect, of course, two slight
annoyances. One is it will bedifficult to replace even and the other,
(26:40):
well, our quarry escaped us,didn't he have them? Then? Of
course the American didn't really play thegame, so we won't count it.
We won't count it at all.All right, my boy, that's enough
for now. Aren't you go withthe rest? Better lot than another time?
(27:00):
Mm hmmm h m hmmmm mmm,rainfa, how did you get here?
I swam? I found that quickerthan walking through the jungle. I
congratulate you. You have won thegame, No, General, and of
(27:23):
course you have. I'm still abeast at bay. Get ready, General,
Zarah, I see splendid. Oneof us is to furnish a meal
for the hounds. The other willsleep in this very excellent bed. Good
(27:45):
rains good, Oh God was right. Never before in my life had I
slept in a better bed. Escapeis produced by William N. Robson and
(28:25):
was directed tonight by Richard Sanville.You have escaped tonight in the Richard Connell
Story. The Most Dangerous Game adaptedfor radio by Irving Ravitch, with Paul
Priest as Sango, Rainsford and HansConried as General zarof The special musical score
was conceived and conducted by Cy Fure. Next week, you're sitting at the
(28:45):
trattle of a speeding locomotives screaming aroundthe curves of a mountain cords, racing
against time with death at your shoulder. Next week you're the engineer of the
Yellow Male. Next week, CBSoffers you a escape with Frank Kate Spearman's
exciting story of railroading the Run ofthe Yellow Male. Until the same time
(29:08):
next week. Then goodnight. Thisis CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting OFFISTO
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