The Interlopers

By Saki
14- "It is a useful hint," said Ulrich fiercely. "My men had orders to follow in ten minutes time, seven of which must have gone by already, and when they get me out--I will remember the hint. Only as you will have met your death poaching on my lands I don't think I can decently send any message of condolence to your family."

15- "Good," snarled Georg, "good. We fight this quarrel out to the death, you and I and our foresters, with no cursed interlopers to come between us. Death and damnation to you, Ulrich von Gradwitz."

trees, woods, snow
22- "Neighbour," he said presently, "do as you please if your men come first. It was a fair compact. But as for me, I've changed my mind. If my men are the first to come you shall be the first to be helped, as though you were my guest. We have quarreled like devils all our lives over this stupid strip of forest, where the trees can't even stand upright in a breath of wind. Lying here tonight thinking I've come to think we've been rather fools; there are better things in life than getting the better of a boundary dispute. Neighbour, if you will help me to bury the old quarrel I--I will ask you to be my friend."
Ulrich and Georg have hated each other due to a generational dispute over territory.

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

Ulrich and Georg become friends after previously hating each other.

Ulrich escapes the fallen branches and leaves Georg alone to die.

Georg escapes the fallen branches and helps rescue Ulrich.

The irony lies in the fact that after years of hating each other and desiring to harm one another, the men ultimately have a change of heart and are willing to put their differences aside and become friends. Additionally, it is ironic that Ulrich initially intends to leave Georg to die, but ends up changing his mind and offering to help him, while Georg, who was determined to fight to the death, ends up saving Ulrich instead.