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The Interlopers

By Saki
34- Both men raised their voices in as loud a shout as they could muster.

35- "They hear us! They've stopped. Now they see us. They're running down the hill towards us," cried Ulrich.

36- "How many of them are there?" asked Georg.

37- "I can't see distinctly," said Ulrich; "nine or ten,"

38- "Then they are yours," said Georg; "I had only seven out with me."

39- "They are making all the speed they can, brave lads," said Ulrich gladly.

40- "Are they your men?" asked Georg. "Are they your men?" he repeated impatiently as Ulrich did not answer.

41- "No," said Ulrich with a laugh, the idiotic chattering laugh of a man unstrung with hideous fear.

42- "Who are they?" asked Georg quickly, straining his eyes to see what the other would gladly not have seen.

43- "Wolves."

wolf
Ulrich and Georg are trapped under the branches of a tree, calling for their men to free them.

What is ironic about these passages from "The Interlopers" by Saki?

Despite agreeing to have his men rescue Georg first, Ulrich betrays Georg and leaves him to die.

Despite thinking their men hear the calls, it is wolves that are approaching Ulrich and George.

Despite becoming friends, Georg escapes and leaves Ulrich trapped beneath the branches.

The ironic aspect of these passages is that despite the initial intentions of cooperation and camaraderie between Ulrich and Georg, they end up being betrayed and abandoned by each other in their moment of need. Initially, Ulrich agreed to have his men rescue Georg first, but later he reveals that the approaching figures are actually wolves, not their men coming to save them. Additionally, despite their newfound friendship and bond during their time trapped under the tree, Georg ultimately chooses to save himself and leaves Ulrich trapped under the branches. This irony highlights the fickle nature of human relationships and the unpredictability of human behavior in times of crisis.