The tension between Ulrich and Georg escalates as they confront each other's trespassing while being trapped, highlighting their bitter rivalry and the precariousness of their situation. The ominous threat that Georg's men might arrive first and potentially kill Ulrich, as he chillingly states, "it won’t need much clumsiness on their part to roll this mass of trunk right over on the top of you," creates a sense of mystery about who will ultimately survive and the violent ramifications of their feud.
“I’m caught in my own forest-land,” retorted Ulrich. “When my men come to release us you will wish, perhaps, that you were in a better plight than caught poaching on a neighbour’s land, shame on you.” Georg was silent for a moment; then he answered quietly: “Are you sure that your men will find much to release? I have men, too, in the forest to-night, close behind me, and THEY will be here first and do the releasing. When they drag me out from under these damned branches it won’t need much clumsiness on their part to roll this mass of trunk right over on the top of you. Your men will find you dead under a fallen beech tree. For form’s sake I shall send my condolences to your family.”
In this excerpt, two men are trapped under a tree and accuse each other of trespassing on their land. How do the men’s situation and conversation create tension and mystery in the story? In 1-2 sentences, support your ideas with evidence from the paragraph.
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